


Addresses 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

DDOlEbbSTlA 




Gojiyii^litr I^ZJ 

COFiTRIGUT DEPOSIT. 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

' IN BLANK VERSE 

A MILITARY DRAMA 

Other Choice and Popular Poetry, Including 

"WHICH CHOSE THE BEST/^ ** TO FIND HEAVEN/' 

*'THE SOLDIER OF THE SEA,'' "THE UNITED 

STATES NAVY," "THE ARMY OF THE U. S. A." 

Also: Essays, Stories, Addresses, etc.. Including 

"ALASKA AND ITS RESOURCES" 

and concluding with 

The Great War of 1914— Its Causes 



BY 

W. WALKER HANNA, A.M., Esq. 

Attorney and Counsellor-at-Law of New York and Philadelphia 



Net price $2.50 



PUBLISHED BY 

WM. W. HANNA 
455 W. 22d St., New York City 



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v 



Copyright 1921, by W. WALKER HANNA, A.M., Esq. 
Attorney and Counsellor-at-Law of New York and Philadelphia 



AUG cj I. 



CURRENT PRINTING COMPANY 
232-4 Greenwich St., New York 



§)C!.A6244:J6 



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"Per ardua ad alta." 



DEDICATED 
To the upright, pious parents, who made me what I am 

James Hanna, Esq., and Mary A. (Walker) Hanna 
of Philadelphia, Pa. 

Also: To my kin and kindred nearest, 
My faithful friends and dearest. 

Particularly including Hon. John Weaver, of 
Philadelphia, and J. L. O'NeiU, Esq., Vice-Pres. 
of the Guaranty Trust Company of New York 



PREFACE 



New York, U. S. A., 
June I, 192 1. 
To Whom It May Concern: 

The author does not expect, in a monetary sense, 
to reahze from the sale of this, very limited, first 
edition, any considerable profit. He does not be- 
lieve, either, that this book, of his, will rival that 
of a Shakespeare, although it may possess, here and 
there, true Hterary merit. 

He does hope, however, that it may serve to 
interest, instruct, amuse and entertain the average 
reader. And, that, by so doing, it will earn for 
him, as a sufficient recompense, the grateful ap- 
preciation of the discerning friend, as well as of 
the general public. 

*'Of the making of many books,'' as Solomon 
once said, ''there is no end." You are, hereby con- 
fronted with another, to sample. May it add some 
new enjoyment to the passing hour. 

With my best wishes, it is offered. 

W. Walker Hanna, A.M., Esq. 

455 W. 22d St. 



CONTENTS 



PART I 

PAGE 

The Cuban Insurrecto — (In blank verse) — ^A Three-Act .' • 

Drama I 

Which Chose the Best?— (Poetry) i8 

The Sabbath— (Poetry) 19 

True Source of Contentment — (Poetry) 19 

The Federalist's Reward — (Poetry) Illustrated 20 

Paths That Lead Away — (Poetry) 21 

Mother Mine — -(Poetry) 22 

Monopoly vs. Truth — (Poetry) 23 

The Doomed Ship — (Poetry) 24 

The Old Oak's End— (Poetry) Illustrated 25 

The Old Year's Departure — (Poetry) 26 

^'Lights Out"— (Poetry) 27 

Ambition — (Poetry) 27 

The Exile— (Poetry) 28 

To a Friend— (Poetry) 28 

Philanthropy's Query — (Poetry) 29 

To Find Heaven — (Poetry) 29 

The Soldier of the Sea — (Poetry) 31 

The Army of the U. S. A.— (Poetry) 32 

The United States Navy — (Poetry) Illustrated 33 

The Home Defense Man — (Poetry) 34 

Lehigh Valley Luke — (Poetry) 35 

The True Friend— (Poetry) 36 

Toasts in Transit — (Poetry) 37 

A Lament — (Poetry) Illustrated 38 

A Last Tribute— (Poetry) 38 

A Prediction — (Poetry) 39 

vii 



viii CONTENTS 

PAGE 

What is an Ideal Wife? — ( ) 39 

To-day — (Poetry) 40 

Political Freedom in America — (Essay) 40 

Municipal Reform from an Educational Standpoint — 

(Essay) 42 

Woman's Rights — (Sic semper tyrannis) — (Essay) 47 

A Great Problem — (Essay) 50 

Cash or Credit — (A humorous story) 54 

PART II 

SHORT STORIES, ESSAYS, NOTABLE ADDRESSES, ETC. 

The Department Store Collector and the Nature of His 

Work 59 

The Department Store's Mistake 71 

Chief Swallow-Tail's Revenge 76 

Then and Now 80 

African Life 82 

The Jew 94 

Why the Roman Catholic Church Desires World Peace . 97 

On Presidential Pre- War Aphorisms 102 

Light, — Life, — Spirit 104 

Alaska and Its Resources — (An address) no 

The Constitution of the United States — (An oration). ... 114 
British Women and the World War (19 15) — (A Letter 

to the London Times, England) 122 

Would We Surrender? 126 

The Great War of 1914, A.D., and Its Causes — (Written 
as an address for the N. Y. Bar Asso.) 131 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



PAGE 

W. Walker Hanna, A.M., Esq Frontispiece 

James Hanna, Esq., Corp. U. S. A., 1863 20 

Kirkdale House, Creetown, Scotland 25 

Lieut. Carroll W. Hanna, U. S. N. and Sister 33 

Hannay Tower — Sorbie Castle, Sorbie, Wigtonshire, 

Scotland 38 



IX 



"THE CUBAN INSURRECTO''— DRAMATIS 
PERSONS 

Sefior Otaro A Cuban Inn-keeper 

Seiiorita Inez His Daughter 

Senors Severo and Sancho, two Cubans (brothers), 

The first in love with Inez 

General Weyler'. Captain-Genefal of Cuba 

A Spanish Colonel or Commandant 
A Spanish Captain, afterwards Sergeant 
A Spanish Sergeant, afterwards Captain 
A Spanish Officer 

A Cuban Spy The demoted Captain 

General Garcia In command of the Insurgents 

Consul-General Lee . Representing the United States 
A Daughter of the same 
A Niece of the same 
A Servant of General Lee's 
A Spanish Hospital Nurse 
'Spanish Soldiers 
Cuban Soldiers, etc. 

N. B. — It is to be understood that where I have 
mentioned in this Play characters or persons, liv- 
ing or dead, they are depicted according to what 
may have been the popular conception of the same, 
years ago; or, at the time this drama was written. 
This conception may have been at the time erro- 
neous, as is often the case. 

Yours truly, 

W. Walker Hanna. 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

(A military drama, in blank verse) 

By W. Walker Hanna, M.A. 

(Rights reserved) 

ACT I 
Scene I 

Place, a suburb of Havana. Interior of Cuban 
Inn exhibited. Two brothers, Severo and Sancho, 
natives, are seated at a table drinking and playing 
cards. The Keeper of the Inn, Sefior Ontaro 
(another Cuban), looking on. His daughter, Inez by 
name, doing the housework and waiting on the 
table. 

Senor Severo (throwing down the last card). 
Brother, the game is yours. Now, you shall learn 
a secret. Come, drink our healths. Inez and I 
long have resolved on marriage, and Sefior Otaro 
to-day gives his consent. 



2 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Senor Sancho. Brother, well done. It gives me 
pleasure. (Holding aloft the glass, while the girl 
embraces her father.) To Inez and Severo. 
(Drinks.) 

Senor Severo. Our joy complete; didst know, 
the bloody butcher, Weyler, but yesterday destroyed 
the leader Maceo by treachery? 

Senor Sancho. I knew it not. But, hist; 
brother, you speak too loudly. Did I not hear a 
footstep ? 

Senor Otaro (aside). Ah, General Weyler. He 
it is. 

[Enter General Weyler in full uniform. 
He scowls fiercely at the brothers, nods 
distantly towards the host, who bows 
low in return, and then turning to the 
girl exclaims harshly.] 

Go, get me something, and be quick about it. 
I have a little matter to settle in these parts. 
(Noticing the brothers arising to depart) Cabel- 
leros, your game continue. 

Sancho (bowing humbly). Not so. Your High- 
ness; having finished it, we go to the Public Gar- 
dens for a smoke. 

Weyler. Well, depart. I seek not here the pres- 
ence of bandits or of rebels. (As the door closes 
he mutters angrily.) This hour I have yon sus- 
pect. At last, he's in my power. The bloody 
butcher, he, but just now, called me. Heard you 
the man, landlord? 

Otara. I did. Your Highness. 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 3 

Weyler. What then does he deserve? 

Otara (obsequiously). Death, death, at your 
hands, Most Noble Highness. 

Weyler. And that, he shall have, and at once, 
although I lose my meal by it (arises from the 
table). 

Inez (throwing herself at his feet). Oh, spare 
him. General, it was but foolish talk. 

Weyler (sarcastically). A lover, forsooth, this 
villain. Girl, look up ! Have me instead. Marry 
me! Aye, marry me — he lives. 

Inez. No! Heaven forbid! Rather, kill him 
and slay me, too. 

Weyler. I will have it so. Await here my re- 
turn. Senor Otara, unless you send me fuller in- 
formation respecting the disaffected of this place, 
you lose your license and your life. 

Otaro. Trust me, Your Highness. 

[Exit Weyler. 

Father and daughter embrace. 

(Curtain.) 



Scene II 

Place, a Public Garden or Park. Sefiors Severo 
and Sancho in close conversation. 

Severo. Dost think the tyrant heard me, but 
now, denounce him rashly? 

Sancho. Brother, I know it. 



4 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Severo. Then am I banished and my fondest 
hopes destroyed. 

Sancho. Dwell not upon the future. This pres- 
ent life is fleeting. 

Severo. 'Tis so; what course seems best to fol- 
low? Why did he let us go? If bandits now or 
rebels. 

Sancho. My ready wit, for once, gave him a 
fitting answer. 

Severo. Then he dissembles deeply, still, to hide 
some other purpose. 

Sancho. No doubt, with spies to trap us both, 
or rather, in some more public way, have his re- 
venge. 

Severo. Here comes a troop of Spanish, as 
though in search of someone. But I will not be 
taken, while I have this about me (shows a dag- 
ger). Inez, farewell. Brother, adieu. I to the 
woods must fly, but Fll return with Garcia or 
Gomez. Alas, that my unbridled tongue has 
wrought such grave disaster. 

Sancho. Here, lose not courage; take this, my 
new sombrero, and my cloak, I need not fear them, 
for I said not aught amiss (aside), yet, I may now, 
perchance, the prison suffer. 

Severo. Thanks, yes. I'll take the things. Mine 
in exchange, you may have from Otaro, at whose 
house they now remain ; such was my haste in leav- 
ing the cutthroat's presence. (They shake hands.) 
Once more adieu. 

Sancho. Adieu, Severo. (Exit Severo, hastily.) 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 5 

Sancho (pauses to examine a lily and remarks). 
Thou are as fair, almost, as Inez, and without a 
tongue, also, thou speakest. 

[Enter a file of soldiers, who ground their 
arms, as the Captain cries, "Halt," and 
faces Sancho.] 

Captain. Are you Severo? Are you that in- 
surrecto ? Come, can you not answer, quickly ? Or 
must I now essay to cure the dumb and speechless. 

Sancho. No, I am not Severo. 

Captain. At last, at last, an echo— you're not, 
then who the mischief are you? 

Sancho. I am Severo's brother. An honest man 
and true one. 

Captain. And he and you have lately been to- 
gether. 

Sancho. It may be so, I trow. Go, seek and ask 
him. Why all this inquisition? 

Captain. With wits we dally not, nor yet with 
villains (looks at a paper). My orders read, 
"Take both the brothers Severo and Sancho" 
(points). Here then is one. I must soon have the 
other. Soldiers, do your duty! Arrest the man! 
(They arrest Sancho.) 

Sancho. I must protest against it. 

Captain. Well, to what profit ? Let us step for- 
ward, quickly. Attention! Carry! March! To 
the Inn of Don Otaro. 



(Curtain.) 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



Scene III. 



Place, Inn of Senor Otaro. General Weyler 
seated with some other Officers. Senor Otaro and 
Inez in the background. Enter the soldiers with 
Sancho a prisoner. 

Captain (saluting). Your Highness, I have 
done my duty. 

Weyler (sternly). I see but one. Where is the 
other ? 

Captain (humbly). I could not find Severo. He 
from the place was missing. 

Weyler (frowning). Your case, Til take up 
later. (To Sancho) Your game is done, you 
traitor, you skulking, scheming traitor. 

Sancho. I ! traitor ! traitor ! What have I done 
amiss ? What have I said unwisely ? 

Weyler. Much, that need not be told. 

Sancho. I ask it; seeking only justice, such 
kind, 'tis said, you boast of. 

Weyler. Which you shall have^ this present mo- 
ment. (To officers) To you, who do compose this, 
brief court-martial, I now denounce this Sancho 
for sedition. His brother, to his face called me a 
bloody butcher. I would, I may forthwith, deserve 
the title. Severo has escaped. No doubt, this vil- 
lain aided. My officers, what say you? 

Officers. He shall be shot to-morrow morn, at 
sunrise. 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 7 

Inez. Oh! Horrible this is. Must I be ever 
silent ? 

Otaro. General, one word; forsooth, Sancho, 
would have kept his brother quiet. 

Weyler. I will teach the villain, and through his 
brother's fall, so shall he taste my vengeance. 

Inez. Could I wed such a monster, much better 
to be single. 

Weyler (in anger). Your turn will come, you 
ninny, when captured is Severo. Yea, both shall 
die together. (Inez weeps.) (To Captain) Give 
up, at once, your sword to yonder sergeant, and 
may he fill your place far better. I will not have 
neglect in office. Beware, how next you do provoke 
mc, or last, you will not long, as sergeant either. 
(To soldiers) Convey the prisoner and yon fair 
viper, Inez, to El Moro. (They arrest Inez.) (To 
former Sergeant, now Captain) Come stand not 
gaping. Get you upon your way. (The soldiers, 
roughly, seize Inez, who shrieks aloud, and depart 
with their prisoners, who show mutual sympathy 
and, as they are led away, exclaim, "Down with the 
Tyrant." 

(Otaro falls on his knees before Weyler.) 



(Curtain.) 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



ACT II 

Scene I 

Place, the woods about Havana. A band of 
Cuban Insurrectos in camp. Severo and General 
Garcia among the number. A Spy enters with 
tidings, who is led before Garcia. 

Garcia. How, now? 

Spy. Cuba Libre. 

Garcia. Tis well. Any news ? 

Spy. Weyler has imprisoned Inez, daughter of 
Otaro, and will to-morrow on the seashore near 
El Moro execute Severo's brother, Sancho. 

Severo (angrily). The dastard! Kills him, 
through hatred of me. 

Garcia. Peace. I will attempt his rescue. 

All. Dare you attack El Moro. How could you 
be successful? 

Garcia. I did not say so. 

Severo. How else can it be done? Is there a 
secret entrance? 

Garcia. I have a method. Ye all do know Senor 
Otaro to be somewhat in league with Cuba's foes, 
although to-day he mourns his daughter. Go to 
him now, yourself, Severo^ with some few troopers. 
General Weyler and his suite within his inn abide. 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 9 

In his own room, without a noise or struggle, take 
Weyler prisoner ; by threats compel a pardon under 
seal for Inez, the girl, and Senor Sancho. This 
same missive must, Otaro, before the morning sun- 
rise, bear the commandant of El Moro, under 
threat of Garcia's vengeance should he refuse to 
venture. 

Severo. The plan will answer. I go at once, 
with joy, to do your bidding. (To some troopers) 
"Follow me." (They follow.) 

(Curtain.) 

Scene II 

Place, Weyler's bedroom. Inn of Senor Otaro. 
General Weyler asleep upon a cot. Enter Se- 
vero, stealthily, a dagger in his hand. Perceiving 
Weyler, he mutters. 

Severo. A brother's life. Another dear one's 
peril ; demand of me this hazard. 'Tis well, I was 
but now, mistaken for Otaro. How well the vam- 
pire slumbers, and yet must I awake him. But 
first — the pen, the paper, and the seal. (Finding 
these upon a side table, he draws the same towards 
the bed, arranges the articles, turns on a light, and 
then lays hands upon Weyler, exclaiming, as he 
shakes him vigorously), "Wake up, you wretch, 
who would be my assassin.'' 

(Weyler, rubbing his eyes in alarm, sits up as- 
tonished.) 



lo THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Severo. Ha! Dost know me. Dost not cower. 

Weyler. What wouldst thou? Where is my 
escort ? 

Severo. See this dagger. Should you make out- 
cry, 'tis buried in your body. 

Weyler. Your turn has come, I gather. Attack 
me not, I will be silent. 

Severo (pointing to some paper). Sign upon 
this sheet, a pardon full and free, for Otaro's 
daughter, Inez, and for my brother Sancho, both, 
by you, imprisoned in El Moro. (Weyler arises, 
frowning. Severo rushes at him with the dagger 
aloft.) Sit down. I get not what I ask, you perish. 

(Weyler, on the cot, draws the paper towards 
him and signs it muttering.) The devil 

Severo. Now seal it. (Weyler seals it.) 

Severo. Fll tie your hands, place them behind 
you and together. (Weyler complies). I'll gag 
you, too. But, first the password for to-night. 

Weyler. 'Tis Isabella. 

(Severo ties a bandage over the mouth of 
Weyler.) 

Severo. Now to your couch, with head away 
from me. Remain in quiet. (Weyler complies.) 

Severo (taking the letter from the table, saying, 
"All is finished" (after looking for a moment at 
Weyler, and turning of? the light) escapes from 
the room, treading softly.) 

(Curtain.) ^ 



[ 1 1 1 [TBE CUBAN INSVRRECTO 1 1 



Scene III. 

Place, seashore near El Moro Castle. A detach- 
ment of troops headed by the Commandant thereof, 
with Sancho a prisoner, marches into view and 
halts. The prisoner, Sancho, his arms bound to- 
gether, is blindfolded and made to kneel, facing 
the crowd (a few civihans having followed), his 
back to a wall. 

Commandant (somewhat apart, and reading a 
paper aloud). Witness, all. We have here one, 
Sancho, who for sedition is condemned to be pub- 
licly shot, this very day at sunrise. By order of 
a military court, signed, Weyler. Captain, are all 
your men with loaded arms drawn up? 

Captain (saluting). They are. Sir. 

Commandant. Then when I drop my handker- 
chief, pray give the word to fire. (The Captain 
cries, Ready! Present! Take aim! etc.) 

Senor Otaro just then rushes in, with a letter 
addressed to the Commandant, who reads it, and 
then in some confusion exclaims: 

Commandant. A reprieve. No. What is this? 
a pardon. Unbind the prisoner. Set him free. 
This is unusual, but Weyler's orders, under seal, 
I dare not disobey. Sefior Sancho! Take my ad- 
vice and quit the country. (To Captain), Captain, 
I have no further orders; I myself will liberate 
this Cuban damsel, Inez. 



12 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO] 

Captain (as he departs). Company, Present! — 
Attention! Port arms! March! (All retire, ex- 
cept Seiior Sancho.) 

Sancho. I am indeed free. What can it mean? 
It must be some mistake. A miracle like this re- 
quires explaining. 

[Inez Otaro^ with her father now enters. 
She, in some surprise, perceiving Senor 
Sancho, exclaims, as she advances to- 
wards him.] 

Inez. What! Alive still, Sancho. 

Sancho (delighted). Yes, Inez. But, why, I 
know not. So you also are free. Good morning, 
Senor Otaro. (To Otaro) Your servant ever. 

Inez. Free I am, but trust not Weyler. Some- 
thing is wrong in this. My father, I can see you 
know it. Your face looks somewhat troubled. 

Sancho. I trust not Weyler. Come — your 
father and yourself — go with me, Inez. I know a 
plan that promises success. So may we yet escape 
the bloody tyrant. 

Inez. Name the plan. What is it? 

Otaro. Yes ! What is it ? 

Sancho. Let us at once upon a ship American 
forthwith embark. We'll seek a home once more 
in the United States. 

Inez (in ecstasy). Agreed. Let us make haste. 
My father, after this, can you, remain in Cuba ? 

Otaro. I think not. No! My Hfe is now in 
danger, also. (Exit omnes.) 
(Curtain.) 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 13 



Scene IV. 

Place, house of General Lee, Havana. Interior 
of business office shown. A daughter and niece 
present. General Weyler is announced by a 
butler or servant, who then retires. 

General Weyler, entering bows courteously, in 
a sweeping manner, to the two ladies, who bow in 
return. 

Weyler. And so the cruel ogre finds the damsels 
awaiting papa's return. 

Daughter. My father, you mean, no doubt. 

Niece. Or mine, perhaps. He's in America. 

Weyler. Well, so am I. (Both ladies lift their 
hands in protest, exclaiming. Who would have 
thought it.) 

Weyler. Ah ! No offence. Where is the Consul- 
General Lee, whom I supposed was father to you 
both? 

Daughter. If it is business, he will see you pres- 
ently. He's dining. 

Weyler. Business it is, and that most pressing. 

Daughter. Will you be seated. 

Weyler. Of course, since so, it must be. (Seats 
himself and uses a fan quite vigorously.) 

Consul-General Lee (entering greets Weyler 
with a frown, brusquely). Good morning. What 
can I do for you. General? 

Weyler. Much, very much, indeed. 



14 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

General Lee. Name it then, right off. Tm in a 
hurry. 

Weyler. Well, General, two prisoners of mine 
have to-day escaped to yonder vessel, which in 
Havana harbor floats the ''Stars and Stripes.'' I 
want them. 

General Lee. What are their names? 

Weyler. Seiiorita Inez, daughter of one Otaro, 
and Seiior Sancho. 

Daughter. General, one moment. Father, I 
have just returned from this same vessel and while 
upon it, I there learned from them their most sad 
history. Their crimes, if any, are political. 

Weyler. Pshaw ! All f ol-de-rol, I take it. What 
can girls know of this? Their tales are foolish. 

General Lee. They are upon my country's ves- 
sel, and there they shall remain. Our women are 
our teachers, ofttimes. General. 

Weyler. TU sink that ship. 

General Lee. Then will you sink yourself. The 
government I represent is even now, from Spain, 
on account of grave atrocities, demanding your re- 
call. 

Weyler. This is impertinence. Good day, sir. 

General Lee. A pleasant riddance, and a long 
farewell, for such ere soon it will be. 



(Curtain.) 



TEE CUBAN INSURRECTO 15 



ACT III. 

Scene I 

Place, the woods about Havana. General 
Weyler, with some officers and soldiers, marching 
to the music of a drum, appear upon the scene and 
halt. 

General Weyler (to an officer). Colonel, as we 
are now quite near the enemy, I shall temporarily 
place the troops under your direct command. 
Finish these rebels and your fortune's made. 

Colonel (saluting). Where go you now. Gen- 
eral? 

Weyler. To Havana. (A cannon-shot is heard. 
Weyler in agitation exclaims). Are they as near 
as that. Then must I have an escort. 

Colonel. It is at hand. Sir. 

Weyler retires with one of the officers. A 
cavalry bugle sounds and he departs. 

Colonel. My comrades, when Weyler leaves, 
there is sharp business on hand. Though no 
Grandee of Spain, I am yet no coward. This time 
we meet the foe. Get the men under cover. (The 
men take different posts.) 

(A fight takes place, and the Spaniards are 
compelled to leave the stage, being 
slowly forced back by the enemy. 
Garcia and Severo appear at the other 
end of the stage. 



i6 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Garcia suddenly exclaims, This is an ambuscade 
(and turning shouts) Bugler, sound a retreat. 

(The bugle sounds, Garcia disappears, just 
as Severo falls, wounded. The Spanish 
Colonel and another officer rush in, ^d 
take him prisoner when he attempts to 
arise.) 
Severo. I yield myself. Colonel, since further 
fight is useless. 

Colonel. You are indeed my prisoner. How I 
pity you. The rebel's fate is certain (taking the 
profifered sword). Why! It is Weyler's most 
hated foe, Severo. 

Severo. Most woeful day, that leaves me thus, 
not only captive, but faint and helpless. Colonel, 
you are not a ruthless foe nor scornful ; your heart 
is brave, your face most merciful, your words are 
sympathetic. I bleed amain and you must bear me 
hence. 

Colonel (to a bugler). Sound the recall. (To 
a group of soldiers) Bear this officer upon a 
stretcher to our camp. (They do it.) 

(Curtain.) 

Scene II 

Place, a hospital (miUtary) in Havana. Severo 
upon a cot or couch. A soldier posted as sentry 
at the door. Nurse enters, ushering in the 
daughter and the niece of General Lee, who have 
letters and a basket of fruit for the prisoner. 



THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 17 

Severo. Ladies, welcome. 

Nurse. Keep quiet, you are not to talk. 

Daughter of General Lee. Here are the good 
things we have brought. Your friends in the U. 
S. A. have written. Inez sends her love. She's 
with her father and your brother. 

Severo. Would she may learn to love, my noble 
brother, Sancho. Pray, write her so, from me. 
My fate is sealed forever. 

Niece of Lee. 'Tis so, indeed, great pity. 

Severo. In hospital to-day. To-morrow I am 
well enough to die in public. But Weyler is re- 
called by Spain, and so I die content. 

Nurse. He shall talk no more. Come, ladies, 
you must go. (Both allow him to kiss their hands 
and then retire softly.) Nurse (aside). Another 
traitor dies to-morrow. Why, then, this fuss for 
nothing. 

Severo. Woman, you are sold to Cuba's foes. 
I hope you may not altogether escape her coming 
woes. (Raising himself upon his elbows, he stares 
straight in front of him, then points joyously, as 
he exclaims), I see the American flag floating over 
El Moro. So Spain's dominion totters. Soon 
Cuba will be free. (Then falls back and expires.) 

Nurse (rushing forward). Alas, he's dead. Per- 
haps, should this come true, a hero. 

(Curtain.) 

Finis 



i8 1 iiJil^^JS CUBAN INSURRECTO 

WHICH CHOSE THE BEST? 

As published in the Presbyterian Journal, June 5th, 1890. 

The rich man proudly made his boast, 

More gold shall yet my coffers fill; 
The grain, which now my storehouse bursts. 

Must be confined more closely still. 
My slaves shall build me greater barns, 

ril tempt them, while I try their skill. 
And for my soul which restless is. 

Shall all things be, just as I will. 

The poor man murmured at the gate: 

Fm sick, heart-broken, soon must die. 
The dogs have pity, give me bread! 

The crumbs! The crumbs I Don't pass me by. 
The rich man noticed, turned away 

With angry look and hardened heart; 
His servant threw the offal out. 

With hidden look and hasty start. 

♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ 

That night, a mob of desperate men 

With rage assailed the rich man's door. 
The fainting beggar crushed to death; 

Cared they for nothing human more. 
Two souls, beyond the grave are met. 

One by redeemed hosts made glad. 
The other in a fiery Lake, 

By anguish tortured, almost mad. 

What need to say, which chose the best. 
Which won the diadem, the crown! 

The rich man's wealth was fickle, false, 
Into the abyss, cast him down. 



THE SABBATH i() 

Where now, the glory, once his own! 

Where now, the heedless, haughty boast ! 
The one has fled, the other waits 

The condemnation uttermost. 



THE SABBATH 

As published in the Presbyterian Journal, July loth, 1890. 

Sweet Sabbath, God's own holy day 

Yet wisely made for man; 
How oft descends the heavenly ray, 

To cheer life's weary span. 
How often, when by ill distressed, 

Doth aid and succor come 
Upon the day that God hath blessed — 

One out of seven's sum. 

Let us observe it then, with care 

As doth the Lord command. 
Of idleness, of sin beware. 

Let labor none demand. 
Take heed and study Nature's law. 

The wondrous love divine. 
Be taught of Him, who bids us pause, 

To light the inner shrine. 



TRUE SOURCE OF CONTENTMENT 

Published in The Daily News of Philadelphia, January 
9th, 1886. (Somewhat revised.) 

'Tis not the wealth of millions. 

That bringeth peace of mind, 
The rich at times, with cares perplexed, 

No happiness can find. 



20 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Some strive, on field of battle, 

To win everlasting fame; 
But, when at last the goal is reached, 

'Tis found an empty name. 

Even the king upon his throne, 
While low his subjects kneel. 

With cares of state, sore overwhelmed, 
No joy of heart can feel. 

Happy the man, whose lot is cast, 

Where he may useful be. 
Whose character is such that love 

Doth blend with piety. 



THE FEDERALIST'S REWARD 

As published in The Philadelphia Inquirer, July i6th, 1888. 

You ask me why I feel so sad, 

This pleasant summer day; 
While waving bough and nodding flower 

Rejoice so blithe and gay. 

While all in Nature is so glad. 

Why am I musing here. 
I grieve to think Rebellion's stain, 

Should once have cost so dear. 

To think, what men of note and worth. 

The brave, the good, the true, 
We have been forced to sacrifice. 

Without the credit due. \ 



PATHS THAT LEAD AWAY 21 

The foes that once confronted us, 

Have now become our friends, 
And hint that nothing must be said. 

For they have made amends. 

Our trophies of the triumphs won. 

They'd gladly set at naught, 
For each of these reminds them now 

Upon which side they fought. 

Should we obey presumptuous zeal, 

To bring about accord? 
No ! Let not now oblivion be 

The Federalist's reward. 



PATHS THAT LEAD AWAY 

As pubHshed in Church Chimes of Philadelphia. 

Trudging along a country road one day. 
Between rich fields that for the reaper waiting lay, 
By many a clover patch and daisy gay, 
I came upon a point, from which did other paths lead 
far away. 

Dwelling in fondness on the sweet past fled, 
I lingered here awhile, ere on my way I sped. 
By Memory's minion being captive led, to scenes of long 

ago; 
Then said I, Life is like the road I tread. 

We start, and all seems new, and bright, and gay; 
Our friends in company, we haste along the way; 
Chasing the shadows off that round us play. 
We heed not care the while, why should we know that 
paths do lead away. 



22 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Till suddenly, and then we part for aye, 
And one goes this fair road, and one goes that some day, 
When each, almost alone, pursues his course, still plod- 
ding on. 
From where those other paths led friends away. 

But, though our journey now is oft times slow, 
Lef s brighter make each path, as to the goal we go. 
Rejoicing, let us always good seed sow, that others after 

us may see 
What beauties we have left for them to knbw. 



MOTHER MINE 

To my mother, Mary A. Hanna^ who passed peacefully 
away December 3d, 1895. (As published in the Pres- 
byterian Journal.) 

Gone from contact with Earth's sorrows: 

Gone from suffering human ills : 
Pain and heartache, no To-morrow 

Brings to thee — so Heaven wills. 

Though I cannot now recall thee. 

Soars thy Soul in safe retreat; 
May I hope that yon thy presence 

Watches by His mercy-seat. 

Waits to welcome, when His purpose 

Is to call Earth's wanderer Home, 
And the Mediator's pleadings 

Finds me shelter, ne'er to roam. 

May my thoughts e'er travel upward, 

Visions of true glory see: 
As I tread this vale of darkness 

Missing most thy sympathy. 



MONOPOLY vs, TRUTH 23 

May the God, whom we both worshipped, 

Keep me safely in His care: 
Till with thee, before Him serving, 

Meet we joys beyond compare. 

Mother mine, the worst is over, 

Earth has parted from thy sight; 
Rest thee in the Land of Beauty, 

Rest thee in His Love — His Light. 



MONOPOLY VS. TRUTH 

Poems as published in "My Early Random Hits," 1898. 

The time had come for battle, with a ruthless, scornful 

foe, 
That threatened to devour Her, if she abroad should go; 
Would Truth's banner be uplifted? Yes! All hail the 

glorious sight! 
See ! It dawns upon the vision ! See ! It waves among the 

Right ! 

For a monster Corporation, with its franchises ill-gained, 

Held at naught a great, free people, its own promises dis- 
dained. 

Would have taxed all Earth's creation to the extremest 
bound, 

So that its hated magnates might grow rich and sleek and 
round. 

And, one of these, a tyrant was, a bitter, faithless man ; 
No renegade, no rascal, more traitor in the van; 
Whose only aim and purpose was to make his coffers 

swell 
Till oppressions of the people should his banishment 

compel. 



24 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

But Truth has donned her armor, her sword is bright and 

keen. 
She will make the false foe quiver, though e'er so base 

and mean. 
She will overthrow the mighty, she will cast the robbers 

out, 
She will end the turmoil quickly. Hear the people vict'ry 

shout. 

Let Monopoly no longer gain sway or prospect here, 
Let the City own its railways, its water- works, its piers; 
Let the City be a City, not a ramble, shamble town, 
Owned by vicious speculators, unshamed by Virtue's 
frown. 



THE DOOMED SHIP 

Still denser grows the murky gloom. 
The moaning waves wash by, 

As if in dread of hidden shoal. 
The good ship oft doth shy. 

The captain stands upon the bridge. 

The trumpet in his hand. 
And waits with weary, anxious look 

To sight the hidden land. 

So frequently the whistle blows. 
With screams loud, clear and shrill. 

That all who hear its warning cry 
Feel fast their blood grow chill. 

Hark, what is that, that o'er the deep 
Doth signal with hoarse throat? 

Another monster steaming in 
Must pass their creeping boat. 



THE OLD OAK'S END 25 

Must soon decide midst vaporous clouds, 

Which way to steer and how; 
But, hold! Avast there! What is this? 

It is a vessel's prow. 

Alas, alas, with cleaving stroke, 

She deals a fearful blow; 
With crashing sound goes crushing through 

And cuts her clean in two. 

The captain shouts, the crew are called, 

The boats swing o'er the side; 
But, ere her hapless people board. 

She sinks beneath the tide. 

To ye who wait on yonder shore, 

Who fondly wait in vain. 
What sorrow will the message bring, 

"Collided on the Main." 

The fog that now shuts out from view 

All objects on the sea, 
Will Hft, but never lifts the veil 

That cloaks eternity. 



THE OLD OAK'S END 

A noble oak in the forest stood 

Firm, erect and strong; 

For years it had reared its lofty head. 

Above both flood and storm; 
The safe, sure home of the feathered tribe 
That there had gathered long, 
And of creatures shy of timid look 

That hid beneath its form. 



26 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

But, with sharp, keen axe the woodsman came 

One bright and sunny morn, 
He only saw a massive trunk 

That would the sea adorn; 
So he hacked and hewed with might and main, 

Nor heeded Nature's frown, 
Till with a fearful deafening crash 

The towering tree came down. 

The beasts of the field fled far and wide. 

Dismayed the sight to see; 
The birds flew off with wild, weird cries 

Of requiem melody. 
Nor long was it before the spot 
By weeds overgrown, by wormy rot. 
Lay wasted and forgot. 



THE OLD YEAR'S DEPARTURE 

The Old Year on the threshold stood. 
Looked up to the clouds and sighed, 
While denser grew the gloom around, 
Deep silence came and reigned profound. 

With Night so weird and still. 

The Old Year drew his cloak around. 
It folded him from view; 
Then off the treacherous threshold slipped. 
As o'er the same the New Year tripped. 
And took a tumble in. 

A mocking laugh is heard without. 
You are enthroned, it seemed to say; 
Yet will you find Earth's pleasures stay 
But for a year, soon, soon away. 
So happy be to-day. 



''LIGHTS OUT'' 27 



"LIGHTS OUT" 

Beside the grave a hero stands 

Of many a hard fought field, 
While near the troops in hollow square 

By blue sky stand revealed. 
Artillery roars beneath the hill, 
Awhile, and then is still; 
Then infantry their volleys fire, 

And silent pause until 
Lights Out, a bugle calls, 

Mellow, clear, but shrill. 

Lights Out, across the open grave 

The echoes faintly float; 
Ah, yes, another hero sleeps. 

Nor hears that lingering note; 

The one that's left will ne'er again 

With him draw ready rein; 
Though oft will he the story tell 

Of blood bespattered plain, 
Lights Out, awaiting too, 

A place among Death's slain. 



AMBITION 

And have you found entrance alway 
To other minds than mine? 

I have from King to Peasant down 
At some time in their day. 

And did they then, as I do now. 
Hold fast thy glittering form? 

Yes, till some tempest came at last 
And by me swept them past. 



28 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Oh! cruel monster, demon, beast; 

And would'st thou let me go? 
Yes, thou art timid and not fit, 

To Earth's high glories know. 



THE EXILE 

Away from his country, away from his home, 
Beyond the great ocean he sadly doth roam. 
And muses perhaps on the land once his own 
From which he now wanders an Exile alone. 

The songs of the birds and the blossoms of Spring 
Cause the old scenes and memories the closer to cling; 
While the ashy hued mantle cold Winter doth bring 
Tempers well with the heart that no longer can sing. 

That land once the theme of his patriot's pride. 
For which brave men nobly had fought and had died; 
A barren waste now its place has supplied 
For the tyrant has entered and long occupied. 

Has divided the land, while Liberty sighed, 
And his minions the people now mock and deride; 
As they groan in their thraldom for want of a guide, 
Ah! few can know how the Exile is tried. 



TO A FRIEND 

The young look to the future, the old think of the past, 
Should you grow old, remember one who prized you to 

the last. 
Yet see you do your duty in this great world of ours. 
Love man, serve God; forever true, reach fair yon 

Heaven's bowers. 



PHILANTHROPY'S QUERY 29 



PHILANTHROPY'S QUERY 

Brother, pause: is it no use 
For us to work and wait? 

And do you sneer at those who try 
A race to elevate. 

What if it should weary 

Minds devising good, 
To ever hear your murmurs, 

To feel misunderstood. 

Knowing well, you do misjudge 

Whatever they undertake. 
Suppose then for a moment 

These should their work forsake. 

Suppose that quitting, leaving all, 
They should take your advice. 

Would you then find it so easy 
To make your creed suffice? 

Suppose your words believing, 
These should do thus and so. 

Under your guidance keeping. 
Would our world the better grow? 



TO FIND HEAVEN 

Go not to the well that soon is dry, 
Try not aloft with the birds to fly; 
Improve but the moments, as Time rolls by, 
Prepare for a World beyond the sky. 



30 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Let not vain thoughts your temper try, 
Let no harsh words wound Spirit shy, 
Endeavor to cheer, whomever doth sigh, 
Not far away doth the Kingdom He. 

A Kingdom, where all is lovely and bright; 
A Kingdom, where never doth come the Night; 
A Kingdom, where all are robed in Light. 
Ah! Yes! 'tis Heaven's gates blind the sight. 

'Tis only those, that by strength and might, 
Resolve they will conquer or die in the fight; 
'Tis only those who obey the right 
That live soon to wear the spotless white. 

That live the glory with One to share 
Who died the guilt of a world to bear, 
To carry from us both Sin and Care 
And give us the right to enter there. 

Would you live to enter that region fair. 
Remember! those who will do and dare 
Are those who will cross the threshold rare 
To taste of its joys beyond compare. 

Then turn not aside from Duty's call; 
Why should you tarry without the wall? 
A Book for the rescued from Satan's thrall 
Will show you what lies beyond the pall. 

Will show you the way is free to all. 
Will show you the Throne in the Mansion Hall ; 
A Light, it will guide you o'er mountains tall. 
Beyond the gate, beyond the wall. 



THE SOLDIER OF THE SEA 31 



More recent published and unpublished poetry. 

THE SOLDIER OF THE SEA 

One of the greatest admirers of the U. S. Marines is 
William Walker Hanna, M.A., attorney and counsellor-at- 
law, of 455 West 22d Street, New York City. Mr. Hanna 
tried to enlist in the Marine Corps during the war, but 
was rejected on account of age. He afterward served 
with the Marine Division of the Home Defense League, 
and in volunteer recruiting for the Allied Services. The 
following was written by him especially for the "Marines 
Mazagine and Indian." (Dec, 1920) : ' 

From shore to shore, from clime to clime, 

He goes at duty's call. 
In peace, in war, in calm or storm. 

He braves life's every brawl. 
His manly breast may lack caress 

Of maiden fair and free; 
He greets his friends, he meets his foes — 

The Soldier of the Sea. 

His ship may sink, her lifeboats roll 

Their contents on the strand; 
He's up again — he's on again. 

This chap of sanguine brand. 
Poised high in air he guards a fleet 

From grim catastrophe. 
Or, midst the palms, he rules rude tribes, 

The Soldier of the Sea. 

Now spic and span he takes command 

In an emergency; 
Or with his mates, in proud array 

Parades most gallantly. 



32 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

His last term up; then home he goes, 

From further service free, 
Or fills a grave in sacred soil, 

The Soldier of the Sea. 

All honor to his memory, 

Who needs no welcome hand; 
His country's flag, his country's cause 

Made his a mission grand. 
And comrades brave, v^ho safe arrive, 

Should ne'er forgotten be. 
"Semper Fidelis" well befits 

The Soldier of the Sea: — 
The Globe and Anchor on his cap, 

The United States M. C. 
The Eagle these surmounting, 

Emblem of Liberty. 

N. B. — May be sung to the air, "Miller of the Dee." 



THE ARMY OF THE U. S. A. 

As published in the "U. S. Army Recruiting News," 
February 12, 1921. 

Facing the bitter blasts of the North, 

Midst Alaska's ice and cold, 
Bearing the sizzling heat of the South 

In our Panama foothold. 
Taking a part in the farthest East, 

Or watching the border line; 
Keeping the Nation's sacred trust 

With the flag that is yours and mine. 
Manning the forts of our scattered isles. 

Or guarding our rights at home; 
Ready to back the "colors" up, 

Should seditious forces roam, 



TE^JimtED STATES NAVY 33 

Meeting the foe on a foreign strand, 

In Russia, Belgium, France; 
With the same old vim, showed long ago, 

Before the Maine's mischance. 
It gave us our independence. 

It now defends our ports. 
The army of the U. S. A. 

Upholds our laws and courts. 

N. B.— To the air of "The Minstrel Boy." 



The following may be sung to the air of "In days of 
old, so Fve been told. When fairy tales were true," etc. 



THE UNITED STATES NAVY 

As published in "Our Navy," Brooklyn, N. Y., 1921. 

Oh ! it's fine to be a Navy man 

And sail the ocean blue; 
To be a sailor of the seas. 

The high-jack of a crew. 
And its great to hear the big guns boom, 

And the little ones go, "crack," 
Whether in peace or war-time. 

On port or starboard tack. 

Oh! it's fine to be a Navy man 

When waves are mounting high; 
To rise upon each swelling surge. 

Then dive, as sea-gulls fly. 
To brave the risk of shipwreck, 

From the reefs that lie below. 
Certain the same will not occur 

To any craft we know. 



34 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Oh! it's fine to be a Navy man 

And sail the ocean blue; 
To live at Uncle Sam's expense, 

Each pay-day coming due. 
And, perhaps, become an "admiral," 

Though its jolly well to be 
In uniform, a sailor-man 

Of the United States Navy, 
Guarding our coasts and commerce 

And the Flag of Liberty. 



THE HOME DEFENSE MAN 

As published in "The Fleet Review," Washington, D. C, 
April, 1921. 

The Marine Corps did not want him, 

Because he was too old; 
The Army also turned him down; 

To argument, was cold. 
The Navy barred his eyesight. 

For the "mess" he wouldn't do; 
Fancy a "gob" with foam-kissed specs 

Making an Irish stew. 



At last, equipped with uniform, 

And given a gun to hold. 
He learned the moves in marching 

Until he grew quite bold. 
Could "shoulder arms" and quickly come 

From that to a "present," 
Then finally to Peekskill range 

With other "guys" he went. 



LEHIGH VALLEY LUKE 35 

'Twas here he learned to shoot, as well, 

The target — with one eye, 
To play at short-stop — as his gun 

Would shy at every try; 
However, soon he qualified, 

As all the rest did too. 
And in the League of Home Defense 

They swore him to be true. 

A defender of the Nation, in 

The Marine Division; he 
Of boats and seamen's tactics 

Could talk amazingly. 
Alas, while still the War was on. 

This force was mustered out. 
And urged the new State Guard to join, 

All comrades good and stout. 
Rejected here for under-weight. 

Is how it came about. 
This hero wears no medal now. 

He's of the common rout. 



LEHIGH VALLEY LUKE 

(Editorial advice in rhyme.) By W. Walker Hanna, at 
one time on the staff of a New York paper, 1921. 

*Tt was down in the Lehigh Valley, 
With a pal of mine named Luke," 
The further recital of what occurred 
Would cause a stern rebuke. 

Now, we leave it to Sailor Jack, himself; 

We leave it to any man, 
If his stuff could e'er be printed. 

As it's quite within the ban. 



36 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

In smut there's nothing lacking, 
And ifs full of spice, we know, 

But it takes far more to-day than these 
To make a poem go. 

If, "it's down in the Lehigh Valley 
With a pal of mine named Luke,** 

By all means have it decent 
And not a rotten fluke. 

If we are to edit a paper, 
And a sheet of good repute, 

Then give us something wholesome 
Or we will not sit here mute. 



THE TRUE FRIEND 

I do not want the friend who clasps my hand 

And then, at once, is through; 
Who does not sense my conscious soul aright. 

Nor yet can, wisely, view 
My cherished plans, ideals, my aims, pursuits, 

Or whispered motives new. 
With ready sympathy to understand. 

Or wild alarms subdue. 

I scorn the waspish ghoul, who stabs my heart. 

When loving guests are few. 
By telling of each petty fault he knows. 

Each sorry act, askew; 
Though from such ill-starred spite or spleen, 

I teach myself, *tis true. 
To curb the fickle whim, the vain desire, 

And, aptly, profit too. 



TOASTS IN TRANSIT 37 

But worse, the faithless fiend, who casts one out, 

At blasted prospects, blue; 
Yet, throve, at my expense or yours. 

When Fortune's gifts were due. 
Oh ! Let me never lack the "pal" 

Who's kind, considerate, upright; staunch — a "bully" 
man, clean through. 
And ready, though a World oppose, to dare 

And do, for me or you. 



TOASTS IN TRANSIT 

Lines written on the Anchor Line Steamship Caledonia, 
July 8, 1910, upon approaching the shores of Great 
Britain. 

I sat one day on a steamer's deck. 

Far out from land and home; 
Beneath me, around me, the deep, blue sea 
That ever seemed calHng, inviting me 

Over its wastes to roam. 



I stood, one day, as the breezes blew. 

Across that steamship's bow; 
Behind me, beyond me, my native land, 
While loomed there ahead a foreign strand. 

Of America no foe. 



Then here's to the land of grand endeavor, 

The land that boast's She's free. 
And here's to the source of Her birth and power 

Britannia of the Sea. (Whence came my ancestry.) 



38 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



A LAMENT 

Lines upon reading of the removal of an ancient keep 
or castle of the Hannays of Sorbie, Wigtonshire, Scot- 
land (Mochrum Castle). Sorbie Tower or Castle still 
stands. 

Of the glory of Hannay, the sept of old GallVay, 

Remains there now nothing, except the mere name. 
The greatness of Sorbie has faded and fallen; 

Far elsewhere the family is seeking its fame. 
Though Sorbie and Mochrum be doomed to disaster, 

Their towers removed, as on strangers domain; 
Yet, Scotland forgetting, the house that has ruled her 

Will forget then the Hannays; she failed to retain. 

(The author is a scion of the Kirkdale branch of this 
family.) 



A LAST TRIBUTE 

So, thou art sped, the one I held most dear: 

Oh ! Man of wisdom and of kindly cheer. 
Although a mother's memory long was cherished here; 

Thou did'st survive; wast spared for many a year 
To bless our home. Alas ! the parting tear. 

Thine was a true life, Christian and sincere; 
I shall not see thy like again, I fear, 

'Till all is o'er, and Heaven's course I steer. 

But fare thee well; thy warming clasp, 

The kiss of welcome from thy patient heart 

Thou dids't bestow, to thy last gasp, 
Unto thy children, scattered and apart. 

How can I best the life-long story tell? 



A PREDICTION 39 

A soldier in the days of Sixty-one; 
That duty to thy chosen Land well done; 

The Church of Scotland claimed Thee as Her son, 
To Her; thy zeal was manifest; The work begun; 

Will live, as Thou wilt. ^*A11 is well," Thou saidest; 
Yes I Thy battle's won. 

(To my father, James Hanna, Esq., of Philadelphia, 
Pa., formerly of Wigton, Scotland, who died in July of 
191 1, in his 78th year.) — By Wm. Walker Hanna. 



A PREDICTION 

(To our Present Rhymsters.) 

The Poets of the Past, 

In the Present Poets die. 

The Poets of the Future are to be. 

Now, should these latter venture 

To; no "better verse" supply. 

Why, there'll be one great and grand catastrophe. 



WHAT IS AN IDEAL WIFE? 

An Ideal Wife is the one whose nature, dispo- 
sition, habits and resources best fit her to meet all 
the varied problems of life ; and to be, as well, the 
undisputed chum, companion and partner of her 
husband, in all that embraces their mutual interests ; 
his true love-mate and the right mother for his 
children. 

— ^A Bachelor's Answer. 



40 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



TO-DAY 

To-day I travel paths unknown, 
Where fancy sure had never placed me; 

The star I followed for my own 
Has threatened oft to quite desert me. 

Yet still I follow Nature's laws, 
With hope that all will yet grow better. 

And trusting that Her richest store 
Will find me free, without a fetter. 

The following four articles are from "My Early Random 
Hits" (1898). 



POLITICAL FREEDOM IN AMERICA 

(An Essay.) 

It might seem almost incredible that in free 
America, a country claiming to have the most en- 
lightened constitutional government on the face of 
the globe, a condition of affairs exists almost too 
deplorable to mention. What has produced this 
sad situation may be easily surmised when v^e re- 
member the causes which hastened the overthrow 
of the ancient republics of Greece and Rome, whose 
great cities to-day lie crumbling in decay. Expe- 
rience, indeed, seems to confirm the hypothesis, 
that in proportion as a government is free and 
liberal, so do the rapacious; the unscrupulous, the 
ambitious, have an opportunity to triumph over the 
free spirit of its institutions. In this progressive 



POLITICAL FREEDOM IN AMERICA 41 

sge ^'Tempus res mutaf^ and the laws of the past 
give way to the enUghtened opinions of the present. 
A constitution that will not submit to modification 
may be an instrument capable alike of doing as 
much harm as it does good, since the interpretation 
put upon it to-day may give to fraud just the sup- 
port it requires. The virtue of a law, it is appre- 
hended, lies not in the rule itself, but in its spirit; 
and as J. Fenimore Cooper, the American novelist, 
has said: "How can a nation be truly said to be 
independent that imports its thoughts, as it Imports 
its wares, from abroad, and has not even the spirit 
to invent its own prejudices?" 

In America life, liberty and the pursuit of hap- 
piness is exemplified in a way quite startling. Indi- 
vidual selfishness, unrestrained, tramples upon 
principle, and with the aid of wealth, power and 
influence institutes and maintains a system of 
slavery unrivalled by the ancients. Bribery and 
corruption flourish, and bossism rejoices. 

Nothing seems to reflect this tendency more than 
an American election. The nominees for office are 
often men of questionable integrity, of loose morals 
and dissipated character. Representing not the 
American people, but an iniquitous combine or ring, 
these men are usually elected in the face of all 
legitimate opposition. 

Corporations know their tools, and the average 
American soon realizes, in despair, what it means 
to cope single-handed with monopoly. The desire 
to hold political office at any cost, too often at the 



42 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

sacrifice of friendship, principle, honor and sin- 
cerity, is deplorable, and is far more reaching in 
its influence than is commonly supposed. It has 
established a standard of morality which, unfortu- 
nately, permeates social and mercantile life to a 
truly alarming degree. 

Since it is generally conceded that patriotism 
vanishes when individual greed is allowed to defeat 
principle, who can wonder that anarchy progresses ? 
Given a Robespierre, and who shall not say, with 
Justice Kent, that "When the spirit of liberty has 
fled, and truth and justice are disregarded, private 
rights may easily be sacrificed under the forms of 
law/' 



MUNICIPAL REFORM FROM AN EDUCA- 
TIONAL STANDPOINT 

If there is any principle through which Munici- 
pal Reform can be accomplished, that principle, I 
am of opinion, will eventually be recognized to be 
educational in character. Given a permanent or- 
ganization of the right sort, with this as its work- 
ing basis, and results cannot but inevitably follow. 

Nearly all recent Municipal Reform movements 
in the city of Philadelphia and elsewhere have ap- 
parently overlooked the fact that the citizen must 
be properly educated up to the full measure of his 
civic responsibility before he can vote intelligently 
and from an adequate comprehension of what 
municipal issues involve. 



MUNICIPAL REFORM 43 

As the average citizen is usually but little swayed 
in his opinions by the stentorian oratory which pro- 
ceeds from the public platform, owing to the fact 
that he must necessarily, in times like these, ques- 
tion the motives of those who seek in this manner 
to influence his vote, some other means must now 
be found to influence his mind aright in behalf of 
safe and economical public measures, wise and 
expedient legislation or sound views of public 
policy. 

The public press, at one time relied on to give 
unbiased information and advice, has of late sig- 
nally failed to fulfill its mission in this respect, 
although it invariably throws much light upon the 
given subject. The Church holds itself aloof from 
politics from fear of contamination, although com- 
menting most severely upon existing tendencies and 
conditions. The universities and colleges teach 
sound doctrine to their students, it is true ; but there 
they stop. There is really no institution for edu- 
cating the citizen and voter, as such, in connection 
with any existing political party, nor am I at all 
certain that he would attend if there was one. 

As the unbiased views of those neighbors, with 
whose circumstances and prospects in life he is 
well acquainted, and with whose motives he can find 
no question, seldom fail to move a non-partisan 
tax-payer or citizen to cast his ballot aright, may 
we not take it for granted that associations of 
neighbors for political purposes upon an educa- 
tional basis would be a good thing for the com- 



44 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

munity at large. The University Extension idea is 
to carry education to the very doors of the people, 
who can ill afford to spare the time to go any dis- 
tance to obtain it. This idea of educating the peo- 
ple in their own neighborhoods could be tried with 
happy success in the field of politics. 

The question arises, however, would not the poli- 
ticians at once offer themselves as fit teachers and 
instructors, and thus no benefits be obtained ? This 
is true, and it must be forthwith admitted that some 
measure should be immediately adopted to keep this 
class, always rightly suspected, out of the move- 
ment. The suggestion is made, in order to show 
by illustration how all these ends can best be ac- 
complished, that in each and every Election Dis- 
trict or Division of a city, for instance, true reform 
clubs, composed of the independent and non-parti- 
san element, embracing men of all political parties, 
be formed, and that the following ten officers not 
place-holders or politicians in office be elected in 
connection therewith: a grand sachem and two 
sachems (constituting the chairman and committee 
upon political matters, one of whom shall preside 
during the debates, lectures, etc., in the club on 
such subjects as Local Option, Prohibition, High 
License, Single Tax, Referendum, Municipal 
Ownership, etc.), president, vice-president, treas- 
urer, secretary, assistant secretary, debater (who 
shall select the subject for debate and open the sub- 
ject by appointing affirmative and negative sides), 
and a grand sentinel (who shall act as door-keeper 



MUNICIPAL REFORM 45 

and as judge in conducting elections). The meet- 
ings to be private or public, as previously deter- 
mined upon, and where in any district or division 
there is not a sufficient number of men from all 
parties of independent views upon municipal ques- 
tions; two, three or more Election Districts or 
Divisions to combine in originating and maintain- 
ing the club for the same. 

Not only could clubs founded upon this plan do 
a great deal towards disseminating useful knowl- 
edge, but they might also, should they see fit, in- 
fluence the result for district or division officers 
at the primaries and polls in favor of some one or 
other of their members. And, to carry the plan 
further, suppose that each club in a Ward or As- 
sembly District sent a representative, serving on 
its political committee, to a Ward or Assembly Dis- 
trict convention to consider candidates of political 
parties for office, with strict reference to reputa- 
tion, record and fitness, would not some definite 
results be achieved, that will never be accomplished 
under existing conditions or by temporary, spas- 
modic efforts in behalf of individuals. By the moral 
influence which this balance of power organization 
would develop and exert, the existing political 
parties would be virtually compelled to select and 
nominate proper candidates. Again, each Ward 
or Assembly District convention of club represen- 
tatives might, furthermore, send a delegate from 
its number to a higher or municipal convention, or 
a municipal league, with a view of having the or- 



46 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

ganization, as such, decide in favor of some one 
or other of the political candidates for municipal 
office, or, if need be, in favor of an independent 
movement, thus facilitating the signing of nomina- 
tion papers, etc. 

To prevent any club from being captured by the 
adherents of a political party dominated by some 
boss, on the eve of an election, it would be well to 
provide that the club increase by tens, and that not 
until more than half that number are on the wait- 
ing list should the vote in reference thereto be 
taken. To insure that only those of good character 
join, applications for membership should go over 
until the next meeting. 

Thus, it seems to me, that if you effect a per- 
manent organization of this sort, having in mind 
the educational principle, you pave the way assur- 
edly for Reform Municipal, and for the presen- 
tation, from time to time, of what is really of value, 
by the respective upholders of Local Option, Pro- 
hibition, High License, Single Tax, Referendum, 
Proportionate Representation, Municipal Owner- 
ship, etc. Instead of adherents of these doctrines 
discussing as segregated coteries their pet hobbies 
without result, the fashion very often in ecclesias- 
tical matters ; they will then be in a position to ex- 
change views with one another, and, if possible, 
make like converts and enthusiasts, while working 
with others for common results political. 

Education and permanent organization, of the 
right kind, must ever go hand in hand in bringing 
about needed reform. 



WOMAN'S RIGHTS 47 



WOMAN'S RIGHTS (Sic Semper Tyrannis) 

Once in the lapse of ages past there lived a man 
whose name was Adam, and singular though it may 
seem, there was not a woman on the face of the 
globe, nor ever had been. Finding that by a spe- 
cial act of Providence he had been created and that 
he was alone upon the earth, in accordance with 
the Divine will, he took the title of sovereign over 
the inferior creatures, nor was this at all singular 
since they readily and willingly submitted to him. 
For quite a time he ruled wisely and well, possess- 
ing and exercising the executive, legislative and 
judicial powers without dispute. But finally, be- 
coming discontented with his lonesome lot (as we 
surmise) a woman was sent to him. Now did his 
troubles commence, for although he retained the 
actual government as before, yet the woman being 
insinuatingly artful by reason of her beauty, often 
obtained her own objects and aims. Unhappily, on 
one such occasion, having obeyed her instructions 
and set the Divine authority at defiance, it cost 
him almost the absolute annihilation of his power 
and dominion, reducing him to poverty and 
wretchedness and releasing creation from obedience 
to him, though not completely. 

Can we wonder that woman (if this be true) 
through the long ages that ensued lost many of her 
natural and civil rights. However, in the last quar- 
ter of the Nineteenth Century, we are again called 



48 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Upon to promote the woman above the man, for that 
is practically what this talk about the elevation of 
woman amounts to. Let us endeavor by facts to 
show that such is the case. What is now demanded ? 
Woman's Rights. Now let us consider the nature 
of these rights. It is, of course, to be presumed 
that they do not desire to lose any of the rights, 
common or special, which they have acquired or 
do now enjoy. Let us look, for instance, at the 
employments which woman's labor controls, teach- 
ing, sewing, dressmaking, housework, millinery, 
fancywork, etc. It must not for one instant be 
supposed that by Woman's Rights is meant the 
opening up or surrender of these avenues of em- 
ployment to men. The agitators on this subject 
may say so, but you will find that women as a class 
think and act differently. Let us look again at 
some of the civil rights to which women under the 
law are entitled. For instance, there is the right 
of alimony, by and through which she may compel 
her husband to contribute to her support. The right 
of owning and controlling property, with special 
exemptions in her favor. By Women's Rights is 
not meant the yielding of these rights, that all may 
enjoy life in common ; No, far from it. What then 
are the powers which they desire? Briefly enu- 
merated they are these: The right to enter into 
those employments and professions from which 
hitherto they have been debarred, and in which men 
have labored; to become lawyers, doctors, minis- 
ters, masons and in all likelihood bricklayers and 



WOMAN'S RIGHTS 49 

carpenters, just as their inclinations direct; the 
right to representation in the government and to 
participation in its control without being obliged to 
perform all the duties of citizenship, that is, they 
would control the Government while the men up- 
hold it. Skirts would come first. 

Many other principles that they insist upon might 
be mentioned here, but as these are mostly subor- 
dinate, it will not be necessary to mention them at 
present. By rare good fortune, they have not 
claimed the right to wear trousers, or masculine 
attire. 

Let us now consider, in conclusion, whether there 
is anything dishonorable about woman's present 
condition and whether circumstances are such as to 
warrant such a radical change in the course of 
human affairs as is desired. Are the employments 
open to women so crowded that they must neces- 
sarily enter those of men? Supposing that women 
were admitted into the vocations pursued by men, 
does it follow as a general consequence that they 
would all be benefited thereby? I am inclined to 
doubt such an assertion. Granted that women be 
allowed to enter those departments from which 
they have been shut out, what must necessarily 
follow as a result of an over abundant labor sup- 
ply? A decrease of wages. Of one thing we may 
be tolerably certain in such a case, and that is, that 
v/omen, being able to live cheaper, having generally 
no families to support, will eventually control the 
labor market. Nor will men only feel the hard- 



so THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

ship of this. Married women will then, too late, 
see the error that has been made, unless eager to 
continue on, in their employments. And now as to 
the fitness of women for legislators, judges, 
sheriffs, etc., history, that science of the past, fur- 
nishes us with no clear precedent. Man has always 
been considered as the one born to rule. He has 
in all ages and from all time been the legislator and 
the defender, being called on at times even to shed 
his blood for the government; and should he not 
have the principal share in its direction? Woman 
has a sphere of her own in which to gain glory and 
renown. Let her devote herself to those fields in 
which she is indispensable. Let her make the world 
happier, and better, and brighter; let her begin at 
home. If, however, she must have the suffrage 
rights, then let her share all responsibilities and 
duties. Put her no longer in a privileged class. 



A GREAT PROBLEM 

We live in an age of uncertainty; that which 
was the sentiment and purpose of to-day often 
ceases to be that of the morrow. Customs, man- 
ners, opinions and habits, whether poHtical, social 
or religious, are changing with a rapidity that is 
truly surprising. Great questions requiring imme- 
diate settlement are constantly coming to the sur- 
face, only to be in every way evaded or indecisively 
answered. Legislation, religion, politics and science 



A GREAT PROBLEM 51 

are all being daily confronted with issues that 
never appeared before, and as the mariner's com- 
pass, when a magnet is brought near it, trembles 
and quivers and turns aside for awhile, the people, 
with each new issue, vainly try to turn aside, to go 
around, but not toward. Often do we find them 
ready to accomplish that to-day which they will 
repent of to-morrow; raging and turbulent a 
moment ago, but mild and obedient now. 

Among the many questions that at the present 
day combine to unsettle the public mind, undoubt- 
edly that of races is one of the greatest. Passing 
over the Indian Question, which is beyond doubt a 
great issue, but one which an honest and intelligent 
legislature can settle; setting aside all questions of 
religion, science, etc., it is my purpose to treat only 
of the position of the government as regards the 
question, ''How shall we legislate as regards the 
races, African and Mongolian?" "All mankind," 
says the Constitution, ''were created free and 
equal" ; and the Constitution is right. The African 
race, since the abolition of slavery, has acquired 
nearly all the rights of citizenship, and what few 
barriers remain are fast giving way to persistent 
effort. That they should be allowed to enjoy the 
most of these rights for which they have contended 
so long is, to my mind, just and proper; but when 
we are called to throw down everything, to reduce 
everything to a dead level, I think we well may 
differ. 

We are asked to admit them to the public schools 



52 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

in spite of race, propriety, manners, morals, preju- 
dice and a host of other natural reasons; to level 
everything that savors of distinction, or prevents 
social intercourse or even marriage ; to admit them 
into our institutions, charitable and otherwise, and 
also to forget that there is an average difference in 
intelligence between whites and blacks. They com- 
plain, too, of the discriminations made against them, 
not considering that the prohibitions are imposed 
not only upon the one race but upon the other also. 
Surely that policy is best, even if deprivatory in its 
character, if it is the best for the public good ; if it 
promotes the general welfare and a healthful, moral, 
social, intellectual growth. The colored race should 
not ask or expect to receive everything in common 
with the white race, to the ignoring of race lines. 

Each should maintain itself distinct. What they 
ought to demand should be equal privileges for 
each; that is, equal school facilities of as high a 
grade as is maintained for the white children. As 
to the right of suffrage and their other civil or 
political rights it is without question necessary and 
just that they should enjoy these. Residence bound- 
aries, also, should be set up. 

And now let us look at that part of our subject 
which is so absorbingly interesting on the Pacific 
slope, the Mongolian question. The principal ob- 
jections raised against the Chinese are that they 
are morally and socially a degraded race ; that they 
will live cheaper and without the comforts that 
even the commonest laborer requires, thus being 



A GREAT PROBLEM S3 

able to work for a lower rate of wages, or when 
in business to undersell their neighbors, and lastly, 
that they are heathen and cannot be Americanized. 
As to the first of these objections I would simply 
say that the degraded condition of the race is owing 
entirely or chiefly to outside influences. Can we 
blame the Chinese for the opium habit? Did not 
civilized Europe and our own country force it upon 
them? What with whisky, opium, gunpowder and 
cannon, is it so surprising that the Chinese code 
of morals has been so low. The objection that the 
Chinese are a heathen people who cannot be Ameri- 
canized is of small moment, and in regard to this 
point I am also constrained to say that we should 
not too hastily censure them. Have any of the 
European powers or have we acted openly or 
justly, honestly or graciously towards this people? 
Can we wonder that with the treatment they have 
received and still continue to receive that they 
should entertain no lofty opinion either of Ameri- 
cans or Christianity ? We cannot blame the Chinese 
race for what we ourselves have made it. Our 
argument against the introduction of the Chinese 
loses force when we do this. No, it is only on the 
ground of expediency that their introduction can 
be opposed. This other and best objection seems 
to me to be the only one on which we can rely. 
We must look at our own people. If they are to 
suffer either in trade, morals or social intercourse, 
then will it be proper for us to close the gates not 
only against Chinese but Japanese emigration. And 



54 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

that the introduction of these two will in every way 
be obnoxious to our people there can be no ques- 
tion. The White Race, due to inherent and, per- 
haps, inherited prejudice, demands politically. 
White domination, which, later on, it mighl c dif- 
ficult to maintain in certain sections, where our 
native-born yellow men are thriving in large 
colonies. 



CASH OR CREDIT 

How Caesario Macaroni Acquired an Overcoat 
FOR Nothing 

By Wm. W. Hanna, M.A. 

From "The Business Man's Magazine" of Detroit, Mich., 
December, 1906. 

It was not that Caesario Macaroni really needed 
such an expensive coat. In Italy, the land of his 
nativity, Caesario would have gone without an over- 
coat from one year's end to the next and would 
have been quite content. In America, however, it 
becomes, during the winter season, and, especially 
in New York City, much colder, at times, than it 
ever does in sunny Italy; so much the more so, in 
fact, that an overcoat of some sort is quite a neces- 
sity. 

Now Caesario might, well enough, have selected 
an ordinary ten or fifteen dollar article to meet the 



CASH OR CREDIT 55 

case; but then — Caesario had ambitions, and also, 
Caesario had a girl, whom he loved devotedly and 
who undoubtedly appreciated a fine, dressy appear- 
ance in her young man. 

Well, after all, why should not Caesario, for once, 
indulge his fancy for a fine merino, silk-lined outer 
garment. The tag on the collar, exhibiting $30 as 
the price, need not prove the insurmountable ob- 
stacle; for, was not Caesario in the employ of the 
same department store that owned the coat and, 
would he not get a ten per cent discount, as an 
employe, and could he not, as well, get it on credit, 
for the same reason. 

They might claim part of the price and deduct 
it out of his wages next pay day; Caesario had 
thought of that — ^but, then again, they might not. 
Caesario bought the coat — took it home and, in a 
very short time afterwards, was wearing it on Sun- 
days, on holidays, too, and, without question, on all 
other days as well. 

Of course, as might naturally be expected, the 
coat soon showed signs of wear; but this did not 
worry Caesario. He had only to raise objections 
to the fit or to the character of the material and, 
presto — the store would take in the buttons, put in 
new sleeve linings, alter to suit, or do whatever else 
he might require. For Caesario's credit, in spite 
of his non-payment for the merchandise sold, still 
remained unimpaired. Dunning letters he had re- 
ceived at his home from the correspondence depart- 
ment of the store. Letters, that of late, he had neg- 



S6 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

lected to open ; he never had had, really, any occa- 
tion to do so, as they always remained unanswered, 
and yet, notwithstanding these importunities and 
this indifference, the humble Caesario, one of a 
long list of employes, was somehow always over- 
looked in this connection, as also at pay day. 

So time ran on, then some months later, Caesario 
had a little misunderstanding with the head of his 
department and quit. Still the store did not forget 
that Caesario owed $30, less ten per cent, for one 
overcoat, a silk-lined merino, and so, collector after 
collector was dispatched, early and late, to interview 
the redoubtable Caesario. But, alas, Caesario's 
kinsfolk, with whom he boarded, could speak no 
English and the collectors knew no Italian; so, 
with Caesario always away, there was an absence 
of any real, satisfactory solution of the difficulty. 

Caesario would write long letters to the store, 
when at length the collectors threatened suit. He 
claimed the goods were not as represented; that 
the overcoat, guaranteed to fit, was a misfit and 
even prevailed on them, during the second winter 
he had it, to take it back and re-alter it .again for 
him. 

This time, the store kept the coat for the balance 
of that winter, in the hope that Caesario Macaroni 
would call for it and make full settlement. Vain, 
illusory was the hope. Caesario, who had mean- 
while purchased a cheaper one, as a second best 
for wear, allowed them to continue their possession 
of the half -worn garment. 



CASH OR CREDIT 57 

The sales department, to whom it was referred, 
refused, at length, to keep the coat longer; it had 
been sold, it had been re-altered. Better notify him 
at t)nce of these facts, send it home forthwith and 
immediately collect. 

This happened, except the last, according to pro- 
'gramme. Caesario got the coat safely back again 
and in time for a third winter, but, Caesario paid 
not one centime of the price. 

The irate collector, who next called, requested to 
know how much Caesario would pay for the coat. 
'Tatience'' was almost "at the point where it ceases 
to be a virtue.'' Caesario would not pay even $20 
for the coat. Would not put any price upon it. 
How did he know what the still unsatisfactory 
article of apparel was , worth. He would have 
to see a tailor. And so, by this time, the coat 
having lost its fine appearance to such an extent 
it was of little value to either the store or Caesario. 
Caesario was allowed to keep the coat and keep the 
price of it also. 



PART II 

THE DEPARTMENT STORE COLLECTOR AND 
THE NATURE OF HIS WORK 

By Wm. W. Hanna, A.M., Esq. (formerly Collector of 
Suspense Accounts, etc., for John Wanamaker, New 
York, and for N. A. Cushman, New York). 

Not every collector, who takes up Department 
Store Collections as a means of livelihood, makes 
an extraordinary success of it. Indeed, I may say, 
there are very few, who possess the tact and requi- 
site skill to continue, for a sufficiently long period 
of years, to avoid the hidden pitfalls, with which 
time and circumstance will, invariably, endeavor 
to entrap them. 

In the largest stores of New York, Philadelphia 
and other cities — those having so many and so 
varied a list of departments, that all work done, in 
connection therewith, partakes most essentially of 
the "division of labor" principle — there are, usually, 
several groups or classes of collectors; each group 
with a distinct function to perform in relation to 
the Collections Department as a whole. A Depart- 
ment, which must stand in very close relations to 
the Bookkeeping Department, yet, must sustain, as 

59 



6o THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

well, the closest connection with the Department 
of Credit. 

Thus we see that the collectors generally, irre- 
spective of class, are bound from the nature of 
things, where limitations of authority are not 
closely drawn or, do not clearly exist, to receive 
instructions; not from one source alone, but from 
several, a condition of affairs ofttimes resulting 
in confusion, as well as, in much vexation of spirit. 
The lack of system involved, as regards this situa- 
tion, being, chiefly, held responsible, for the fre- 
quent changes in the ranks of the collection force. 

By way of illustration merely, as well as to, 
somewhat, emphasize this: I will mention, that, in 
one establishment I was connected with, until re- 
cently, experiments were constantly being made at 
the suggestion of Credit-man, Department of Ac- 
counts Head, or Collections Department Head, 
which would have tried the patience, to the utmost, 
of the average collector and, assuredly, did try the 
patience of those of us, who handled the Suspense 
and Profit and Loss work. 

I recollect that during my first year's employment, 
with a view, doubtless, to having us work as late 
as possible — that we might interview delinquents, 
just home from their places of business — I was 
expected to report at store opening- time, 8 a.m.^ 
but was not expected to return the same day; all 
collections being turned in the following morning; 
then, later — whether the management was afraid 
of some mischance to one of us over-night; or, 



THE DEPARTMENT STORE COLLECTOR 6i 

owing to a desire, as announced, to have the checks 
entered on the books, as early as possible^ — this ar- 
rangement was altered, and at the suggestion of 
somebody else, a new man, who had but recently 
taken charge of the Suspense collection desk, we 
were notified not to report in the morning at the 
store, but to start from our respective residences, 
on store time — ^to collect, reporting in the evening 
before store closing time — all expense slips for car- 
fare to be presented the same day, also. 

The true reason for this scheme, however, was, 
as I firmly believe, that since the store had to as- 
sume anyway, when we were absent, that we were 
faithfully at work, it would be good policy to have 
us save the long rides or, better still, the time lost, 
coming in every morning, merely to report; since 
by starting from our residences, adjacent to our 
respective territories or districts, promptly at 8 
A.M., we stood a good chance, as well, of catching 
the man of business — the debtor — at his home. 

Under this arrangement, we were obliged to re- 
port every evening before store closing time. The 
one, personal objection, I frequently found to this 
was, that very often, as my district covered an ex- 
tensive and suburban area, with long distances to 
traverse, I could not, at all times, reach the fur- 
ther, or more distant, points within the time limit. 

This arrangement continued for a year or so; 
until, another new man at the desk, doubting our 
honesty as to the 8 a.m. start, with the approval 
of the Department of Accounts Head, undertook 



62 TEE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

to have us report at store time in the mornings, 
as before, and again, in the evenings, also. 

The excuse given by the Head of the Accounts 
Department, was that the Credit-man might desire 
to send up, some morning, ''something special" in 
Suspense or Profit and Loss. With old accounts, 
as any one familiar with the subject knows, this 
was palpably ridiculous, and — in the previous years 
of my experience — no such emergency ever arose 
to my knowledge; where the matter was really so 
important, that it could not wait from one evening 
until the next, or rather, from morning until even- 
ing and, besides this, the regular force of ordinary 
collectors, reporting every morning on store time, 
could readily have furnished a volunteer. 

The early morning hours are, undoubtedly, the 
best for interviewing the business man or delin- 
quent debtor, especially, at his home; and,^ I am 
convinced, the last arrangement made, requiring us 
to report at the store every morning, was, so far 
as I, individually, could judge of it, prejudicial to 
the best interests of the Suspense and Profit and 
Loss work. 

There are, as I have already pointed out, differ- 
ent groups of collectors. First: we have, for in- 
stance, the Book and Piano men — those who collect 
the installments on books sold on subscription or 
club plan — encyclopaedias and the like; or, on 
pianos and musical instruments. 

In this line, as there is, usually, a written, signed 
contract in existence, whereby title, to the articles 



TEE DEPARTMENT STORE COLLECTOR 63 

in question, remains in the store or firm until final 
payment; interest being charged on lapsed assess- 
ments, and with clauses of forfeiture of possession 
also, where same are, unduly, deferred — the col- 
lector, usually, will find his mission a successful one, 
and, with a little diplomacy, combined with shrewd- 
ness, if duly supported by intelligent store au- 
thority, will be better able to achieve results, by 
the exercise of a little forbearance and patience, 
than, through the exercise of harsher alternatives, 
or, the insisting on the letter of the law, with its 
ensuing hardships, legal suits, costs, tangles and 
difficulties. 

I, personally, had to do with one, rather stub- 
born, special case, where a customer had purchased 
a phonograph on installments, and, after keeping it 
and the horn for quite some time, desired to return 
the horn, claiming that an old one, he had, would 
do. After the balance due, which was about equal 
to the value of the horn, had remained for some 
time unpaid, I made a call upon the party and by 
pointing out, notwithstanding some little argument, 
that the written contract price was determined by, 
and based on, sale of horn, as well as phonographic 
instrument; and, representing that the new horn, 
with a new instrument, would be more likely to 
render perfect service, by much tactful patience and 
perseverance, I succeeded, ultimately, in having the 
last installments paid. A resort to legal process, 
thus becoming unnecessary. 

Second; there are, for instance, also — the Regu- 



64 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

lar or Ordinary Account Collectors, who handle 
accounts not greatly overdue; those concerning 
which, correspondence alone, seems not to alto- 
gether accomplish the end in view. 

And then; Lastly; the class of men who are, or 
should be, the best paid, and who have the hardest 
end of it — the collectors, who rank next to the 
skilled lawyers and collection agencies and, who 
handle the Suspended Credit Accounts and look 
after Profit and Loss matters. Sometimes, there 
is as well, a Special Collector or so, sustaining a 
close relationship to the Head Credit man, who is 
given full charge of exceptionally important mat- 
ters; but, in general, these three enumerated 
groups constitute the principal and most important 
of the Department Store salaried or employed col- 
lectors. 

The Regular or Ordinary Account collectors are 
expected to persuade the slow-minded patrons to 
meet their accrued obligations at once, and the 
work requires much patience, perseverance, meek- 
ness, humility and tact. 

These are they, who when "reviled" by some 
wealthy, but obtuse patron, "must revile not 
again." 

They are expected, in addition, in case of any 
dispute over the correctness of a customer's ac- 
count, to give some time and attention to the solu- 
tion of the difficulty; that the matter may be ad- 
justed and the balance paid; and yet, under our 
present, ill-devised system, of, in general, gauging 



THE DEPARTMENT STORE COLLECTOR 65 

a collector's worth, by the amount turned in at the 
end of a day, as well as by the number of visits 
or calls made each day ; it is hardly surprising, that 
the tendency on the part of the average collector, 
is to fight shy of this duty and to endeavor to have 
the amount carried to Suspense Account, by repre- 
sentations that it is ''too hard" to collect. 

One cannot, however, in every case, blame the 
ordinary collector, under such circumstances, for 
fighting shy of the adjustment of tangled or dis- 
puted accounts. 

I have known, successive, itemized bills rendered 
the customer for like periods (which should have 
been duplicates), to exhibit far different balances 
and the resultant confusion ; where, as well, articles 
have been returned and credited on wrong state- 
ments, has but added to the realm of mystery. 

I will admit, too, touching upon the qualifications 
for a good collector, that it does not always pay, 
either, for an ordinary collector to be ''too humble," 
or "too meek." "There is a time," as the Good 
Book says, "for everything"; and, as I write this, 
I call to mind, how an elderly gentleman, a col- 
lector—over forty years with one New York house, 
whose birthplace was Ireland — made out, by adopt- 
ing different tactics, when all else had failed and 
further argument seemed useless. (Here's the 
story) : Once again, he had been given the promise 
of a check in full settlement of a long overdue ac- 
count. Promptly, at the time indicated, he was on 
hand; but the check was, as on previous occasions, 



66 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

not forthcoming, and he was told, he had '"better" 
call again. 'Indeed! I think not!" he replied; 
''it is not better for you, for me, or for the firm I 
represent." Then taking a vacant chair, he seated 
himself, announcing as he did so — ^he would hold 
the debtor to his promise to pay in full, right there, 
at the time as agreed upon; as well as, his inten- 
tion of staying with him for the rest of the day; 
or, until a check was given him in payment. 

Threats failed to move him, bluster availed not, 
and, eventually, he got what he called for. In these, 
somewhat strenuous, days "grit" pays, as well as 
other qualities. 

The collectors, who handle what are termed the 
Suspense and Profit and Loss Accounts, are usually 
men who have had considerable experience in the 
line of collections. Very often, men of legal train- 
ing and ability, and quite often, men of bookkeep- 
ing experience, as well. 

Being skilled investigators, these are the men who 
are expected to unravel all the mysteries, as to why 
accounts develop, unsatisfactorily. 

Mistakes in bookkeeping, wrong charges, im- 
proper or omitted merchandise credits; such are 
some of the problems they are expected to adjust. 

People in failing circumstances; customers with 
grievances; patrons of spiteful temper; of acrid 
disposition, of mean avaricious, shifty character ; all 
bankrupts, receivers and the like, are to be duly 
approached and dealt with, after their kind; and 
in such a manner too, that no boomerang will await 



THE DEPARTMENT STORE COLLECTOR 67 

the worker, at the store, in the evening or, at the 
end, when his day is done. And, with all this too ; 
the cash must come in; or, the man goes out. 

As a rule, while it is from the male patrons that 
personal violence may, occasionally, be appre- 
hended, and I have, even, known of an unpro- 
voked assault, committed, at times, on some unfor- 
tunate collector, faithfully following up some Profit 
and Loss claim; yet, in the main, it is the women 
patrons or debtors, who cause the most trouble to 
the Suspense Account collector, and who are the 
most apt to make mischief by spreading false and 
erroneous reports, concerning him and his methods. 

Yea, I have known them to visit the Credit-man, 
in my own case, with stories of scenes and of things 
that never occurred, and which must have had their 
origin in an over-wrought imagination. 

The worst feature of all this is, that no matter 
how wild the tale, it gains, very often, some degree 
of credence, and, indeed, it requires, sometimes, 
quite a lengthy explanation to show how little plau- 
sible it is, and so, regain the confidence of Credit- 
man or Manager. 

I well recollect, how, at one time, I was myself 
accused of having gone to the rear of a certain 
house, when I could find no one at home front, and 
of having rapped vigorously on the back door with 
my umbrella, to the general disturbance of the 
neighborhood. The lady of the house, who was in, 
on a subsequent visit, loudly vociferated, openly ac- 
cusing me of this, on the word, as she phrased it, 



68 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

of a tenant in a rear property, who had seen me, 
as was claimed, in the act. 

I pointed out, that she had herself said, that if, 
at any time, she did not answer the bell at once, 
when I called, I might probably find her by going 
to the rear. I pointed out, patiently, when her tor- 
rent of words had ceased, and her indignation had 
subsided somewhat, that this was just what I had 
done, on the occasion of her absence referred to, 
and that, although I had had an umbrella with me, 
it had remained under my arm, all the time; even 
when I had knocked on her back door, with my 
hand, for admittance. 

Notwithstanding my explanation, she wished to 
confront me with her tenant, which I declined to 
permit, as I could have no use for such an one, 
and I have no doubt my lady reported, on all the 
circumstances of this remarkable, albeit fictitious 
episode, to my employers, as she threatened to do. 
It is to be hoped, that she has settled the balance, 
that I was after for such a length of time, as I 
know, that many and unfruitful, were the promises 
and the appointments given me for payment. 

It must be borne in mind, that in addition to the 
fabrication of excuses for not paying, many debtors 
and, particularly, the women, will, quite often, seek 
to save themselves, if possible, by complaining, 
without any foundation whatever, to the store man- 
agement; that the reason why an account was not 
paid long ago, was because of the conduct of your 
collector, Mr. So and So, etc., etc. 



THE DEPARTMENT STORE COLLECTOR 69 

This is a reprehensible piece of business, and the 
average collector would suffer oftener, if it was 
not, that people of this sort, usually overdo the 
part, to such an extent, that the motive becomes, at 
once, quite transparent. 

I can only emphasize in closing, that a collector 
of any sort and, especially, a Department Store Col- 
lector, will find it, at all times, to his advantage 
to be engagingly civil, obliging, good-natured, 
honest, straightforward, earnest, persevering and 
tactful; neat in dress, careful in speech, clean in 
person, cheerful in manner and correct in habits. 

He should, upon each visit, become better 
acquainted with the debtor, from whom he seeks 
payment; and, while not becoming over-famiHar, 
exert sufficient personal magnetism to let the other 
know he is interested in him, or her, in the daily 
details of life and business, as they reveal them- 
selves to him, and that, while seeking liquidation 
of the debt; he follows the matter up, more that 
the other may have a chance to do what is right, 
when, and as soon as, circumstances will allow, 
than for any other reason; with a manifest abid- 
ing faith, that all alike must realize and should up- 
Jiold the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy,*' as 
the nearest approach to the Golden Rule. 

Let it not be forgotten, also, that more is gained 
by patient kindness and good-will than through any 
sledge-hammer method, and that, while occasion- 
ally, it may be necessary to threaten suit ; yet that, 
even here, the matter should be brought to a 



70 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

"focus'' and to a close, so far as the collector is 
concerned, in such a way, that although relations 
are terminated, there must, nevertheless, remain 
some enduring respect for the manner in which he 
has conducted himself. 

I have been so far honored myself, in the John 
Wanamaker connection, that I have known the 
house, losing patience, upon my failure to collect; 
bestow the matter upon some commercial agency; 
and, when also, the commercial agency, or the at- 
torney, to whom it was referred, later, could do 
nothing with the matter in question, quietly, unos- 
tentatiously restore it finally to my list, for another 
and, perhaps, more successful trial. 

The best maxim for the collector, who has met 
with many and repeated rebuffs, is, ''Never de- 
spair." As the constant dripping of water will 
wear out the hard, flinty rock, so patience and per- 
severance will accomplish all things. As to Napo- 
leon Bonaparte, there were ''no Alps," so, to the 
resourceful, the successful collector, there should 
be no insurmountable obstacles and no hopeless 
cases ; even if, on the Profit and Loss list. "Peace 
be unto you," my brother. "Where there's a will, 
there's a way." 



THE DEPARTMENT STORE'S MISTAKE 71 

THE DEPARTMENT STORE'S MISTAKE 

(Founded on Fact.) 

Miss Daisy^ — stenographer and typewriter — was 
in a hurry to reach the office down-town. She had 
been unduly delayed in making her purchase of 
''Social Teas/' which was to constitute an item of 
refreshment in her programme for a home evening 
with some few girl friends. First of all, in the 
great emporium which sold everything in general 
and nothing in particular, she had had difficulty in 
locating the "grocery department''; then she had 
had another hunt for the ''biscuit counter," until 
finally, after the busy, young saleslady had finished 
with some other early customers, an opportunity 
arrived, and she received her nicely done up, inter- 
sealed package and was thereby enabled to wend 
her customary way to business. 

This Miss Daisy was employed in a well known 
geologist's office, where for years, with her em- 
ployer's appreciation included, her ability in con- 
nection with a certain Remington machine, as well 
as, in the line of stenography, had long been a sub- 
ject of enthusiastic discussion, at odd moments ; on 
the part of sundry surveyors, clerks and others, 
who constituted the subordinate working force, and 
who were usually too much occupied with their map 
drawing and figuring to bother about anything else. 

Once, indeed, however, it is on record, that they 



72 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

had imprisoned the cat in one of the drawers of 
her desk, so as to make her jump upon opening it, 
but then, poor pussy had made such a protest, that 
one of them had been obhged to set her free, for 
fear their employer in his private office would hear 
the noise and demand the reason of it. This prac- 
tical joke might have had the result intended, but 
for this, and also, if it had not likewise happened, 
fortunately for her tranquil mind, that the young 
lady, before she had commenced her routine work 
that morning, was called upon to take some dicta- 
tion in the aforesaid, adjoining, private office; and 
that, while so engaged, a visitor arrived without 
to see the ''boss.'' 

Whatever he may have thought, on seeing the 
cat with a loud cry spring out of the drawer of a 
desk, where it had no reason to be, and dart into 
the hall, as he opened the door — we do not know, 
but he must have been tempted, if a S. P. C. A. 
man, to make inquiries. 

Now — peradventure — having long since become 
accustomed to her companions and their antics, 
and being necessarily less unsophisticated, their op- 
portunities were more meager. 

Upon this particular morning Miss Daisy entered 
the office a trifle late; smiled a good morning upon 
all and, after placing her package in a safe place, 
condescended to explain the reason why she was 
detained en route. 

There was little or no comment, except of a ban- 
tering sort, and she began her work promptly — had 



THE DEPARTMENT STORES MISTAKE 73 

her noon-day lunch later, at a near-by restaurant, 
and then; later still — finished up, in the evening, 
about as usual. 

On her way out she noticed, as some of the 
clerks wished her good night, that they grinned 
rather mischievously; but with her bundles safely 
in one hand and a number of letters to be mailed 
in the other, it did not strike her as unusual or 
even suspicious. 

But when she got home that evening and her 
friends in due season were prepared to dispose of 
the '^Social Teas," her astonishment was un- 
bounded, to behold nothing but small pieces of coal 
in the package. Could the clerks have known at 
the office what it contained — hardly, for the seals 
were still unbroken and there was no sign it had 
been tampered with — ^but it might have been that 
they had heard the imaginary '^Social Teas" rattle 
in the box, when she had lifted it from the desk, 
and were disposed to make merry over it. Re- 
assured, by thus allaying her fears and suspicions. 
Confident that her package was still intact, the 
next morning found her again at the same depart- 
ment store, in a state of conscious rectitude, to 
have the ridiculous, unaccountable, matter investi- 
gated. The same young woman appeared, and to 
her she related her complaint — how she had been 
given a parcel which contained, not the crisp, de- 
licious "Social Teas" which she had ordered and 
paid for, but an intersealed package, which, although 



74 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

marked ''Social Teas/' contained, when opened, 
only small pieces o£ very, very, black coal. 

''Wonderful,'' exclaimed the young woman, and 
then hailed a passing floor-walker. "Mr. Smith! 
one moment, please. What do you think the Bis- 
cuit Trust is doing now? Putting up coal in its 
intersealed packages. Just hear what this young 
lady says, will you " 

Patiently, for the second time, she rehearsed her 
story to him. 

"Strange," he remarked. "Come with me to the 
manager's office. Yours is the first complaint yet 
received of this sort." 

The manager, when found, listened with ill-con- 
cealed vexation to the customer's complaint; then 
made inquiries as to the condition of the package — 
but Miss Daisy stoutly denied it had been touched, 
or the seals broken, except where she had herself 
opened it. Finally, after a moment's intense 
thought, he told her they would write the Biscuit 
Co. and apprise them of the outrageous circum- 
stances in short order — apologized, for her having 
been made the innocent victim of some far distant 
'practical joker, and informed her that meanwhile 
she could have her money back if she wished it. 

Her money refunded — justice accomplished — 
she, once more, arrived at the office, on time, for- 
tunately, but flustered with the morning's exertions. 

Her unusually triumphant animation prompted 
one of the clerks who noticed her arrival to remark, 
"That she must have had a jolly good time last 



THE DEPARTMENT STORE'S MISTAKE 75 

night." This led her to narrate to him the entire 
story. As she proceeded he could hardly hold him- 
self down and, at length, sang out, ''Here, boys, 
come listen to this latest department store swindle.'' 
Soon, however, when she mentioned to an inter- 
ested, gaping audience, how the manager proposed 
to take the matter up with the Biscuit Co. for 
sealing up black pieces of coal instead of ''Social 
Teas," they could restrain themselves no longer 
and fairly roared, in inSuppressible mirth, as they 
explained how they had themselves, as a joke, un- 
sealed the package with steam, extracted the biscuit 
and refilling it with the small pieces of coal, care- 
fully re-sealed it as before, without leaving a mark. 

"But, Miss Daisy," they all exclaimed, "have pity 
on us; we intended to play the joke on you — not 
on the department store^ — yet the joke is on the 
store and on us too, and you must help us to avoid 
the legal consequences, if any, and square the mat- 
ter up, or they'll say we were getting goods on 
false pretenses. Here's the full price (and they 
forthwith chipped in). Do like a good soul, see 
that the matter is dropped. Please do." 

And thus it came about that Miss Daisy, a pretty 
typewriter girl, made still a third journey to a lead- 
ing departmental emporium or store establishment 
of her native place to give them the exact truth — 
the whole story, respecting their inexplicable 
blunder. 



76 TEE CUBAIJ INSURRECTO 



CHIEF SWALLOW-TAIL'S REVENGE 

It happened, many years ago, that there existed 
a certain tribe of redskins, who were known as 
Mandans, and whose hunting and camping grounds, 
while considerably west of the outlying colonial 
white settlements, were, nevertheless, widely sepa- 
rated, by both forest and stream, from their more 
warlike, more savage, neighbors of the uncharted, 
unsurveyed interior. 

A brave, highly intelligent people, they had, 
under the succession of able sachems, wisely culti- 
vated the arts of peace; tilling the soil, weaving 
themselves clothing, and improving their village 
domiciles. At peace with their white brothers and 
with no molestation, from any source, they had 
gradually, without misgivings of any sort, settled 
down, under the then leadership of an old, ex- 
perienced and noted chief, named Swallow-Tail, 
to enjoy life, fully convinced that as they had for 
very many moons harmed none — none would harm 
them. They might hunt, they might fish; but why 
prepare for war, when war seemed so unnecessary. 
Swallow-Tail's advice, as often given in the council, 
was "war kills," ''peace creates.'' ''Let there be 
but one warrior in this tribe, to fight your battles, 
and I will be that man. Go on in peace and pros- 
per ; I will guard my people and, if necessary, aided 
by the Great Spirit, who ever loves justice and 



CHIEF SWALLOW'TAIVS REVENGE 77 

truth, protect their persons, and revenge their 
wrongs." So said he, and his people, by degrees, 
heeding his admonitions, discarded the bow and 
arrow, the spear, the tomahawk and the knife; 
unless, where useful in the chase, or peaceful in- 
dustry. 

Thus, in almost idyllic enjoyment, many days 
passed; days of prosperity; days of contentment, 
and the old chief was deeply respected and highly 
honored. 

But adversity was at the door. A scourge of 
smallpox, contracted through a visiting white 
trader, who sought hospitality among them, while 
ill from the malady, in a short time decimated the 
tribe, and while the survivors, many of whom were 
just recovering from its effects, were almost power- 
less to resist, a runner brought the evil news that 
a band of hostile Sioux, raiding from the Far West, 
were rapidly approaching. 

Realizing the peril of their situation, the old 
chief acted at once. Men, women and children, he 
gathered together, all who were able to travel, and 
bade them conceal their trail and hide themselves 
in a certain inaccessible part of the dense forest. 
Of all the number, one only, the beloved daughter 
of Swallow-Tail himself, was permitted to remain; 
that, being a woman, she might nurse the sick and 
beseech the enemy for mercy, warning them of the 
dreadful scourge. 

The old chief, true to his unforgotten vow, ar- 
raying himself once more in the panoply of his 



78 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

more warlike youth, his gUstening skin daubed with 
paint, an eagle feather waving from his banded 
locks, tomahawk and knife at his belt, bow and 
arrow in hand, deftly disappeared into the not dis- 
tant underbrush, to await the oncoming foe and 
subsequent developments. 

He had not long to wait. A savage war-cry, and 
the Sioux had surrounded the village. As they 
drew nearer the wigwams, they espied Winnymora, 
Swallow-Tail's daughter, coming towards them and 
carrying in her arms a child, whose swollen face 
and body showed the nature of the disease. One 
look, and, in affright, they were gone. Not, how- 
ever, before their ferocious leader had forever 
stilled the heart and life of the brave girl by a 
cruel shaft from his bow. 

Swallow-Tail, almost stunned, saw the act; then, 
quickly, approaching the body, he knelt, with a 
moan of sorrow, and removing the arrow to his 
own quiver, sought out in the deep forest glades 
the hiding place of his people. Bidding them return 
to their homes and duties, he informed them the 
course of even handed forest law, required the 
death of the raiding chief, for the daughter so 
foully slain. ^T am one, against many, and ye are, 
but few, but the Great Spirit is mighty. Rest here, 
my people; I alone will execute judgment upon this 
aggressor. I promise, though I should travel many 
moons, yet shall this foul assassin perish." So say- 
ing, he withdrew, to seek the enemy's trail. 

Many days, perhaps a month, elapsed; and, of 



CHIEF SWALWW'TAIUS REVENGE 79 

their chief and his chosen mission, there came no 
tidings. At length, they mourned him, as one who 
had perished; and the community, restored to 
health and renewed confidence, were about to se- 
lect his successor, when an old man, well bent over, 
leaning on a bow, lame and spent, was observed 
approaching. At the same time there sounded, for 
the last time among the Mandans, the well-known 
scalp-halloo, and Swallow-Tail was with his peo- 
ple, in their midst, his enemy's scalp-lock held 
bravely up, receiving their congratulations and 
their praise. While they busied themselves about 
his person, investigated his wounds, and relieved 
his needs, even as they adjusted, with pride, his 
chieftain's head-dress, he told his tale. 

"When I left you, my people, I followed the still 
warm trail of our enemies, by day and by night, 
until I came up with their encampment. The rest 
was easy. I enticed their leader into the forest, by 
imitating the wild turkey's note; there I pierced 
him with his own arrow; sounded the war cry of 
the Mandan; took his scalp, to prove my mission 
done, and, amidst a flight of arrows, some of which, 
unfortunately, struck home, made my weary, lonely 
way through trackless wastes, wounded and spent, 
to die, perhaps, as I shall now expect to, at home. 
I have revenged my daughter and my tribe. Ye 
are at peace again, as I would have you. So re- 
main. It is meet that one man, in his youth a 
man of war, should do this for his people. War 
kills ; Peace creates. Farewell, and may the Great 
Spirit bless you." 



8o THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



THEN AND NOW 

Yesterday — waiting for the girl to rejoin him, 
as he lay on the sandy beach — Hugo De Lancelot 
had reviewed philosophically the glorious Past, and 
had found himself comparing, almost uncon- 
sciously, his own poor attainments and prospects 
with the brilliant achievements of another of the 
name — an ancestor of the time of Bruce and Ban- 
nockburn. 

In those days, he reflected, life was full, indeed, 
of startling incident and heroic adventure and — he, 
who armed cap-a-pie, like the ancient Hugo of old 
— kept watch and ward, with his many retainers, 
behind good, stout, castle walls, as truly labored for 
the good of the community — as does any blatant 
socialist of to-day. The sturdy tenants of that 
bygone age willingly tilled the laird's lands and 
supplied his table; for they well knew — who stood 
between them and royal prerogative on the one 
hand, and — for their protection against lawless 
raiders on the other. 

It is no easy matter to carry around, from one 
year's end to another, so many pounds of armor 
plate upon one's back, without, at times, feeling 
sick of the whole business. It was surely justifiable, 
that this redoubtable ancestor should have been con- 
sidered, at best, grim and austere. No one then, 
however, called him an idler — a parasite. It was 



THEN AND NOW 81 

left for this generation, with its psychology and 
social reform, to do so. He had died in a tragic 
way too. Leading his men valiantly, in a melee, 
on the Cruives of Cree Bridge, he had been 
crowded oif and had sunk, like a plummet, through 
the quicksands beneath. Hugo, the modern, as yes- 
terday he had ruminated on this sad fact — called 
it, almost skeptically — a well-devised suicide and 
the happy ending of a tired life. 

What would this ancestor have done in the 
Present, if he was in his descendant's place. Would 
he have aroused himself at 6 a.m.^ to do all the 
needful chores, work in a factory to 5 or 6 p.m. 
and thus earn his livelihood by the sweat of his 
brow ; only known to his fellows by a certain desig- 
nated number; without prospects, without fortune, 
without future — home, wife, children or happi- 
ness — with a meager wage, only, and a great soul 
hunger always? What would he do, with nothing 
left, save such as the many possess; a good char- 
acter, a sound, moral reputation and an honest 
record; and this after all the educational experi- 
ences of an uneventful existence? Why! — in his 
ennui — he would make as good a finish as at the 
Cruives of Cree — "Perhaps." 

But these speculations are over. They were of 
"Yesterday,'' which has gone its way. While "To- 
day" — to-day — all the morning papers are brim- 
ming with glowing praise of the self-sacrificing 
hero, who at Coney Island, the day before, was 
lost. Yesterday, was drowned, while attempting to 



82 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

rescue a young lady, whom he had accompanied 
into the surf and who had ventured beyond her 
depth. Rumor had it, she was a former fiancee 
who had finally rejected him, on account of his 
many failures, his abysmal poverty and the ob- 
scurity of his living connections. Had the ghost 
of Hugo De Lancelot, the modern, returned, how- 
ever, it would, no doubt, have pronounced the 
sequel as, merely, a well devised suicide and a 
happy ending. As for the girl — the survivor — she 
will never be quoted. A new friend brought her in. 



AFRICAN LIFE 

(Experiences of a Friend.) 

Father Tim had just been made a blood brother 
to the Chief with the usual simple but impressive 
ceremonies. So, of course, regarded himself, as he 
was likewise treated by the natives, as a highly 
privileged character. 

He had had a thatched hut constructed, and a 
piece of ground or clearing, assigned, for which he 
had paid what seemed to him a mere trifle — some 
few trinkets — and thus, permanently established, 
was enabled to study the natives at his leisure and 
to advantage. 

Among them, he was the great dispenser, the 
great trader, as well as the popular teacher and 
the miraculous doctor, or Pooh Bah, owing to the 



AFRICAN LIFE 83 

numerous tin boxes of stores, containing muslins, 
cloths, beads, buttons, tacks, knives, etc., which he 
possessed. Also, as a crack shot with the rifle, he 
was soon destined, as well, to share honors with 
the Chief in the public estimation. 

And, what a journey he had had, to be sure, 
before he had finally reached this haven, of secu- 
rity, of rest, and of observation. 

First ; there was the time, when he had come to 
the broad, dark, muddy, swollen, onrushing river, 
where all his nude, black porters, with the goods 
floating in front of them, had breasted the current 
and reached the other side in safety — only to dis- 
cover that they had left the white man behind; 
whereupon, they had uncoiled a large branch of the 
fibrous rubber tree, and one of them returning with 
the end thereof, had tied it securely around and, 
under his arms; before giving a signal, which had 
resulted in his being hauled over in rather sudden, 
awkward style. 

It was with a chuckle of satisfaction he remem- 
bered this, and that he had made the procession 
halt — despite all protests — that he might change his 
wet flannel shirt for a dry one. They could not see 
any sense in his doing so, as they were to cross 
the samiC river, again and again, during the day, 
and in the same fashion; but he had had his way 
and had, adroitly, shown them their mistake, by 
first drying the soiled wet one, by hanging it over 
the load, on the head of the man in front, while 
on the march; and then, donning it again, ere the 



84 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

next submersion was required, at which time, he — 
mindful as well of the clean one — having folded it 
neatly into his helmet, transplanted said helmet, 
firmly, to the head of a good swimmer, among the 
porters, and bade him keep his head above the 
water. Tactics, which often repeated, resulted in 
his reaching camp that night, in a clean flannel 
shirt, as usual. If they had saved his life, he had 
saved his shirt. 

Then there was the time when a venomous black 
snake had fatally bitten his native servant, before 
he had discharged the rifle shot that killed it. 

Then, again, v/ith chagrin, he recalled the days 
he had lost through illness. 

First; it was the ague, from which he had 
slowly recovered; then came that unfortunate buf- 
falo hunt, when with a hand rendered unsteady by 
the previous malady, he had endeavored to supply 
the natives of his party with the fresh meat, they 
had been so eager for. They had come across a 
good sized buffalo bull, and he had fired just as it 
had charged — a shot which, unfortunately, failed 
to stop it — another, which, likewise, reached no 
vital spot. Taking to his heels, there then followed 
an exciting race for life, wherein, he, at last, 
dodged back of a tree, only to have his side and 
abdomen ripped open, by a side thrust of the long, 
sharp horns. A dead man, he would have been 
then — as he fell to the ground and the infuriated 
beast returned to the charge — had not a courageous 
native rushed behind the tree and, as it came furi- 



AFRICAN LIFE 85 

ously on, sent his long spear deep down into the 
back of its neck, kilHng it, instantly. 

He had been a long time sick, following this mis- 
adventure ; but he had survived, notwithstanding. 

Now, at last, he had arrived at his destination 
in Central Africa's wilds, and could congratulate 
himself these incidents were but memories; as for 
the scar of his wound, that was but a lasting souve- 
nir of the battle royal between himself and the wild 
buffalo. 

Almost the first thing he attempted to learn was 
the language, and, although it took him nearly two 
years to become thoroughly familiar with that of 
the first tribe, with whom he resided — the Ma- 
yombi — yet, at the end of his first sojourn of six 
years or so, among them, he found he could speak 
three or four languages, or dialects, more or less 
fluently, as they are very similar. While studying 
their speech, he also utilized his time to good ad- 
vantage, by observing their customs and cere- 
monies. 

He found that one of the most dreaded individ- 
uals among them is the Witch Doctor, and with 
good reason. Let any one fall sick and appear in- 
curable, the Witch Doctor is sent for. He sounds 
his rattle, blows his horn, and the drum is then 
beaten, and the tribe, men and women, assembled 
in a wide circle around the sick person. While 
this is taking place, the Witch Doctor, meanwhile, 
dances around the invalid, makes incantations and, 



86 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

finally, his declaration — that certain, in the tribe, 
have bewitched the sufferer. 

This over, he dismisses his audience, with a warn- 
ing, he will call them together, on the morrow, as 
he intends to spend the night in discovering the 
guilty ones. 

The next day, all are assembled as before ; when 
the Witch Doctor enters; with his head-dress on; 
his axe over his back; the sacred knife in his belt; 
the rattle in one hand, and a cup of poison in the 
other. 

He goes through much the same performance 
as before — threatening those that have the evil 
spirit within them. Finally, he looks at three or 
four of the men and women, closely, and bids them 
be seated in the center ; when he, forthwith, accuses 
them of causing mischief and illness in the tribe. 
Of course, the poor wretches deny it; but no denial 
is permitted. 

He hands them the cup of poison and adjures 
them to partake of it, saying; if they are innocent 
it will not hurt them; but, if guilty, they will die. 
Immediately, they all hasten to obey. A few min- 
utes later, when the potion has completely stupe- 
fied them, he rushes at one — the sacred knife 
flashes, the bosom is laid open, and the heart cut 
out and laid on a prepared plate or leaf. So, with 
each one, in succession. 

The warriors, who, meanwhile, have been dan- 
cing to the sounds of the tom-tom and drum, now 
rush in with their double-edged knives and dis- 



AFRICAN LIFE 87 

member the bodies, each taking a piece, which in 
the end, at a given signal, they carry to another 
part of the camp, where the boys have built a fire, 
in which the remains are consumed, and the hor- 
rible orgy terminated; wherein three, four, five or 
six have been brutally sacrificed to witchcraft for 
the illness of one. A curious necklace, worn by the 
Witch Doctor, indicates the number he has thus 
killed ; the black beads denoting the men ; the white 
bells the women. In addition to their double-edged 
or double-bladed knives, the warriors also carry 
spears, and it is the custom that only the warrior 
who has killed a man may have hair around his 
spear ; a weapon that is over eight or nine feet long, 
and which they can throw, with unerring aim, a 
distance of seventy-five feet, owing to their being 
trained from earliest childhood to the highest skill 
in its use. 

Father Tim discovered that, among the natives, 
when a young man goes courting, he goes and 
squats down, before the mother's tent, and sings 
his praises of both, until the mother either entreats 
him to be of good cheer or to take himself ofif. 
If the girl's mother is well satisfied, however, he is 
invited to come in ; is treated hospitably, and is then 
taken to see her eldest brother ; who, having ar- 
ranged the terms and the amount to be paid by the 
suitor, places one hand on his sister's left shoulder, 
and the other on his visitor's right, and together 
they resort to the place of audience in the village. 
The drum is pounded and, when the natives gather 



88 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

around them, public notice is at once made, that 
they are affianced. After this, the girl is led away, 
by the young, unmarried women, to another part 
of the village, where a covered platform is erected, 
whereon she must remain, until seven moons have 
passed; not being suffered to leave this shelf, ex- 
cept at certain phases of the moon, when the young 
women assemble again, and, having painted her, in 
fantastic colors, fetch her down from thence, to 
participate in their dances. At these rites, no men 
are permitted to be present. 

At the end of the allotted period, the girl is, 
again, brought to the public place of audience; her 
friends accompany her. The bridegroom, with his 
friends, arrives. The drum is beaten to summon 
the natives and immediately, thereupon, the Witch 
Doctor steps forward, with a large ring, like a 
bracelet, which he holds right before the bride, and, 
at the same time, explains, that, as the ring is round 
and has no end, so, likewise, a wife's obedience to 
her husband has no end. Then, he takes a whip, 
which he exhibits to the bride, and, putting it in the 
bridegroom's hands, tells him it is his duty, with it, 
to enforce obedience; but, that, he is never to use 
it without drawing blood. Having taken an oath 
to this effect, both drink out of a common dish, or 
bowl, and the ceremony is over. The marriage is 
proclaimed, and the wife is taken to her husband's 
home, where, as women do most of the hard work, 
her Hfe of drudgery will commence. 

Likewise; the good father observed, they had a 



AFRICAN LIFE 89 

means of thoroughly embalming the dead. Indeed, 
when a chief died, elaborate methods were resorted 
to, to preserve the body from decay. (The same 
methods, largely, whereby Dr. Livingstone's body 
was preserved.) It was then, after embalmment, 
hoisted to the top of a pole; the numerous wives 
were gathered beneath it, and all, whether stand- 
ing, kneeling, sitting or lying down, were compelled, 
for two or three days, to keep their faces and their 
eyes towards it; sleeping or waking, on penalty, 
otherwise, of being buried up to the neck alive, 
without the camp, but in sight of food and drink; 
and a further punishment, three days later, of pub- 
lic impalement upon a sharpened pole, by the Witch 
Doctor. 

The Cannibal tribes, as a rule, file their teeth to 
a sharp point, and are accustomed to eat all cap- 
tives taken in war; although they do not always 
do so at once, or devour them *'en masse." Not- 
withstanding his enjoyment of human flesh, if a 
cannibal and a white man are friends, however, 
the former, on a long, wearisome march, will divide 
his last banana, where both are spent from hunger. 

The Pygmies, little dwarfs, about two or three 
feet high, live in the depths of some of the largest, 
most inaccessible foi:ests, and, it must be said, the 
larger natives, of the other tribes, are afraid of 
them. They are not a polygamous people, like the 
others, and are rapidly becoming extinct. Their 
want of physical strength is largely equalized, or 
atoned for, by their cunning strategy. They dig 



go THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

pits, along the jungle pathways to their villages 
cover them over lightly, with grass, etc., and, at 
the bottoms thereof, leave upright poisoned spear- 
heads; a puncture from one of which means 
death. When other tribesmen happen, by chance, 
to cross a Pygmy trail, they invariably halt, 
tremble all over, and then, strike out in another 
direction. Although they trap many of the larger 
animals, by digging large pits, and covering them 
over with loose vines, branches, leaves, etc., having 
first planted sharpened stakes beneath, their main 
reliance, in hunting, seems to be, their use of poi- 
soned arrows, the least scratch of which causes 
death. They use two poisons;, one of which 
paralyzes all the nerves and produces coma; the 
other, of which, affects the blood and causes the 
most frightful pain. These arrows are fashioned, 
always, to the same exact length, being the height 
of the pygmy who uses them; though why they do 
so it is hard to say. 

The Pygmies, as a rule, are of a shy, timid, re- 
tiring, distrustful disposition, and, perhaps, they 
have had good cause for this. 

Among the Mayombi and other tribes it is not 
accounted morally wrong to steal; unless one is 
detected ; but, in that event, the punishment is some- 
thing frightful. The culprit has all the bones of 
his left arm, his right arm, and right leg, broken 
with a hammer or mallet, and is, then, thrown into 
a pit to die. 

Notwithstanding these cruel customs, Father Tim 



AFRICAN LIFE 91 

scon began to make his influence felt for good, 
while among them; and, by degrees, succeeded in 
winning them away from some of their worst ones. 
He studied them, to improve them — not exploit 
them. He taught them the truths of a happier, 
holier faith, and made himself, genuinely, beloved 
by them; especially, when in time of sickness, he 
ministered, with his drugs and healing art, among 
them. 

So much did his fame spread abroad, that, when 
one day, taking leave of one people, he journeyed 
to a more distant and dreaded Cannibal tribe — the 
king or chief thereof, when he arrived, after the 
usual reception ceremony, believing him to be 
hungry, after the long march, brought two young, 
nude and comely women forward; tapped them, 
lightly, with his fingers, and said: ''Eat! eat!" For 
a moment, as the women smiled at the white man's 
appearance, he did not realize what was meant; 
then, in a flash, it dawned on him; the girls were 
captives, and, being young and tender, were offered 
to him as a toothsome treat, for present and future 
meal-time delicacies. 

He, however, managed, without great offense, to 
make the king understand, that he was then, on 
a strict vegetarian diet as were also, he declared, 
most of the white people. (He had become con- 
verted to this kind of diet while in Africa, where 
they eat the whole of any carcass and seem to relish, 
at times, almost putrid flesh. ) This avoided any 
further embarrassment on his part, and, undoubt- 



92 THE CUBAN INSVRRECTO 

edly, saved, for a time, at least the lives of the 
two young women who seemed, so far as he could 
judge, to be quite resigned to their after fate, 
treating the affair, altogether, as a common, or 
usual event. Whether shortly after this occasion, 
Father Tim succeeded in obtaining a promise that 
cannibalism should thereafter cease, I do not know ; 
but I feel certain, that during his long stay among 
them, this tribe must have, eventually, surrendered 
their cruel method of dealing with captives. One 
thing is certain, female suffrage is not likely to 
trouble Central Africa for many years to come. 

Of the many beasts which Father Tim hunted in 
Africa, none was, perhaps, so much dreaded by the 
natives as a species of horned horse; perhaps re- 
lated to the Okapi. The male seldom, if ever, will 
wait for man's attack. It is prone to charge at 
once, and woe betide the native who is caught by 
it, on its dagger-like horns, with its teeth, or be- 
neath its hoofs; for in a rage it invariably stamps 
him to pieces, neighing, in triumph, meanwhile. The 
natives, when hunting it, "beat the bush" for it, 
having first formed a wide circle of warriors 
around the spot where it is known to be. Each 
warrior, with a long spear and shield, advancing, 
until it is surrounded, and, despite the fury of its 
onslaught, dispatched — when a grand jubilation 
takes place, ere the carcass is dragged home. 

Now, in conclusion, before I quit my theme, I 
might mention, that on his last visit home to the 
U. S. A., Father Tim was commissioned by a native 



AFRICAN LIFE 93 

prince, the heir apparent of a powerful Chief, to 
procure him a white wife, which he undertook to 
accompHsh, on the youth's promise to abandon 
polygamy. The prince was not at all particular as 
to social status, or as to type or character; she 
might be blond or brunette. His only insistence 
was as to color; she must be white. I fear, how- 
ever, it is too late for any one of our *'old maids," 
who would be a reigning queen, to apply, as I 
understand Father Tim has again sailed, this mis- 
sion probably performed, to again take up his 
labors among a people whom he has learned to ad- 
mire and love. 

Despite his wounds — the one as related from a 
buffalo bull — which is apt to trouble him at times, 
as it necessitates a truss ; and the other from a rhi- 
noceros, where his back was pierced, as he was 
going to a little spring, without a rifle, to bring up 
some water for a sick white companion, a visitor. 
The full-grown beast having suddenly charged, and, 
as he tripped and fell behind a log in the pathway, 
caught him, near the spine, with its horn, the instant 
his friend, with trembling hand, fired the shot which 
ended its career. Despite such mishaps, however, 
and the perils of the wild. Father Tim, hale and 
hearty otherwise, gives promise of many active 
years to come. 

Central Africa, thus, swallows up again, not 
only a little advertised F. R. G. S., but one of our 
best, noblest, most useful, most gifted men. May 
long life, and success, attend him. 



94 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



THE JEW 

In approaching this subject, I am endeavoring 
to do so with a mind devoid of all prejudice, for 
some of the greatest benefactors of the human race 
have been of this people. 

The Jew has given to the World the greatest, 
clearest monotheistic conception of an omniscient, 
omnipotent, omnipresent God, and the moral pre- 
cepts, which the religion of Judaism, thousands of 
years ago — gave to Mankind, and inculcated, as 
principles to be devoutly followed — were and are 
of the highest, purest and best; essentially practical 
and, essentially, sufficient. 

It must be borne in mind, also, that the common 
religion of the greatest, most powerful, most pro- 
gressive nations of the World — the Christian reli- 
gion is, also, of Jewish origin. And, no matter 
how we may regard the founder of this faith and 
system of belief ; whether as divine or human ; or 
as both; he was, nevertheless, the greatest, purist, 
and most sincere socialistic, religious and moral 
teacher that time has ever produced. 

And, yet, he was a Jew, and so were all his 
disciples ; and loudly and unmistakably did he pro- 
claim that his message was to the Jew first. Yea, 
to the Jew were all his passionate appeals directly 
addressed, and, in a subsequent age, this was so 
far recognized, that Gentile peoples, who accepted 



THE JEW 95 

Christianity, openly acknowledged, "Salvation is of 
the Jews/' 

Let us give the Jew credit, therefore, for origi- 
nating two of the purest and best systems of reli- 
gious faith and morals that have yet influenced the 
human species, towards the highest realms of attain- 
ment. In the study of Government and Civics we 
must also credit the Jew with having early caught a 
glimpse of the possibilities of a republican or rep- 
resentative form of government, and of having en- 
deavored, for awhile, although in a theocratic form, 
to establish the same. 

As an offset to this, the intellectual, moral, re- 
ligious or spiritual, which is the best side of his 
character, and which, if developed properly, makes 
him the compeer, if not the superior, of those of 
alien races, there is, I regret to say, one striking 
defect — a predominate fondness for material well- 
being ; even, for filthy lucre, which renders him, too 
often, ready to sacrifice, the health, safety, happi- 
ness and principle, not only of himself, but of 
others; for financial or substantial gain. 
. The Jew is, ipso facto, and has been from the 
first, a commercial man — a trader ; and his mercan- 
tile instincts, through the course of years, have be- 
come abnormally developed, at the expense of his 
better nature. No better comment could have been 
made on Jewish character, nor a better allusion to 
its well known and prominent defect, than v/hat 
was said by the great Rabbi ''Christ," when in the 
Holy place, the temple at Jerusalem, having driven 



96 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

out the money changers and upset the seats of those 
that sold doves, within its sacred precincts, he ut- 
tered those memorable words, '*My Father's house 
has been called the House of Prayer; but ye have 
made it a Den of Thieves." This tendency to seek, 
at the expense of principle, a material or financial 
gain, has led the Jew to become, very often, a 
meddler and busybody in the affairs of honest 
people; who wish none of his advice or interfer- 
ence, and it is this which, at certain periods and 
in certain places, has caused the race, in general, 
to be detested and, even, persecuted. 

He is prone to find fault, on the slightest pre- 
text, with what, only slightly, concerns him, and 
is, quite often, himself, the original offender. And 
then, instead of considering the general public ben- 
efit, considers, merely, his selfish, individual inter- 
est. I have known of many cases, where one Jew, 
for the most trivial or, perhaps, imagined inconven- 
ience, would have deprived thousands of a daily 
pleasure, and instructive, profitable amusement. I 
have known of one, a Jewess, so selfish, that the 
singing of some small finches, in a large aviary next 
door, annoyed her, to the point of a public complaint 
against her neighbor, whereas, her own parrot was 
a nuisance to the whole neighborhood. Is this as 
it should be? I trow not 

Another trait of the Jew I might comment upon 
in closing. He is, like the Japanese, racially clan- 
nish, and does not make affinity with those of other 
religions or race. In this respect, however, he does 



TBE JEW 97 

not stand alone; Roman Catholics, and, perhaps, 
Mormons, are somewhat similar, in the barriers 
imposed to a free marital choice. This spirit is 
opposed to the free spirit of a democracy, where 
all are, theoretically, equal ; and is reprehensible, as 
claiming a superiority ; which should not depend 
upon either religion or race, but upon merit alone. 
With kindest regards for Jew and Gentile, how- 
ever much I may differ in opinion, allow me to con- 
clude the subject. 



WHY THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 
DESIRES WORLD PEACE 

(1918.) 

Before the recent fratricidal struggle com- 
menced, the Roman Church, under the politic guid- 
ance of the then Pope, was not only well organized, 
well equipped and well financed, but was, every- 
where and universally, well knit together, politically, 
socially and religiously. Presenting, thus, a united 
front and an exemplary condition of firm solidarity, 
which was well fitted to accomplish Her utmost 
aims, objects and desires — money and brains were 
ever, readily, at the command of the Holy Father, 
and Mother Church's investments, no matter where 
located, were perfectly safe. 

What has happened since? Due to an inability 
to prevent the War, lessen its extent or even re- 



gS THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

duce its fierce ravages ; although he strove manfully 
towards that end, and to cope with a deplorable 
situation; a conflagration and catastrophe which 
transcended his power to control, ameliorate or 
diminish; Pius X, worn out by his hopeless, self- 
sacrificing efforts, as well as by profound grief and 
disappointment over each disastrous event, became 
ill and, in deep despondency over the relentless war- 
fare waged by professing Christian nations, died. 

His successor, Benedict XV, has had no light 
task since. With similar high purpose, persistently, 
he has, again and again, moved by the destruction 
of so many precious lives and so much valuable 
property, sought to stem the rising tide of bitter- 
ness, rage, hatred and strife, which, emanating 
from political jealousies and racial prejudices, has 
caused the ever widening desolation, desecration 
and devastation; but his efforts, likewise, have, as 
yet — unless since the armistice — been without frui- 
tion. 

And, well may Benedict oppose the continuance 
or renewal of this War, for full well, already, does 
he know the cost thereof, to that Church, of which 
he is the Supreme Pontiff or Head. 

Hundreds of thousands of Her best, bravest, and 
most loyal sons; yea, and many of Her most de- 
voted daughters, also, whose financial support has, 
ere this, constituted, mainly, the material basis 
Upon which Her fabric rests, are, to-day, lying 
buried in the numerous filled-in trenches of many 
a stricken and indecisive battlefield. 



WORLD PEACE 99 

Their yearly contributions, individually, may 
have been small, but, v^hether they originally be- 
longed, nationally or racially, to Great Britain, 
France, Belgium, Russia, Servia, Montenegro, 
Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria or 
Turkey ; to Asia, Europe, Africa, America or Aus- 
tralasia; the principal result achieved is the same, 
and a serious diminution in the Papal revenue is 
directly foreshadowed and manifestly threatened. 

Nor is this all. Consider how the Church has 
suffered otherwise; not only in Her prestige 
abroad and in heathen lands, as the harbinger of 
Peace and a blissful Christian millennium, but, 
in all her vested property interests, also. 

How many of Her finest cathedrals, churches, 
universities, colleges, schools, parish houses, mis- 
sions, museums, monasteries, convents and hoary 
monuments of glorious, imperishable memory and 
antiquity have been ruthlessly blotted out; battered 
to pieces; despoiled and irretrievably ruined for- 
ever. How rapidly have Her finest works of art 
and human handicraft, irreplaceable works of old 
masters, been shattered, disfigured or demolished. 
Her much prized libraries of scientific, philosoph- 
ical or theological research, recklessly shattered or 
consumed — all as a result of the respective wanton 
and indiscriminate onslaughts and bombardments. 
With fire, with bomb, and with artillery to destroy 
them; there they lie a charred, blackened, shapeless 
heap. Priceless gems of a Past civilization; to- 
day, accounted as, merely, worthless dust. The 



loo THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

best, also, of the Present day, seeking a grave to 
rot in, as a cataclysmal finish. 

It is almost unbelievable, incredible. Yet, so it is. 

Nor does the woeful tale end here; far from it. 

The moneyed and financial investments and un- 
dertakings of the Church and of Her principal, 
prominent adherents in the hostile countries in- 
volved in the War, have been so affected, that Her 
income must also, thereby, be rendered uncertain; 
if not altogether threatened by the ultimate outcome 
thereof. Holding, perhaps, the governmental 
bonds, obligations and securities of the various re- 
cent warring Powers; what will they be worth to 
Her in the end? 

Verily, He who sits in the Vatican at Rome, and 
has patiently beheld so many of his Catholic chil- 
dren in Germany, Austro-Hungary, France, Bel- 
gium, Italy, Servia, Poland, etc., killing one another, 
day after day, and making one bonfire of Europe, 
must often question, where to all this must tend, 
and whether Christendom and the Roman Catholic 
Church, in particular, will ever recover fully from 
the blow She has received in the house of her 
friends. 

More and more. Pope Benedict XV must deeply 
realize that the main burden of the Catholic Church 
support must fall upon the shoulders and backs of 
those not involved, unless indirectly, through the 
loss of trade, commerce, etc. ; in the titanic up- 
heaval. 

Contribute! Give! Give! must now be the call, 



WORLD PEACE loi 

to each Church communicant or visitor, and, with 
the amounts respectively contributed elsewhere, 
for widespread, popular charities, to relieve the dis- 
tress abroad, such as, for Red Cross work, for the 
sick, the destitute, the starving, the maimed, crip- 
pled or prisoners; and also for the increasing 
charitable demands at home, in each neutral State. 
Where the money is to come from, to meet these 
presently reiterated demands, must soon become a 
problem, and one difficult of solution. 

Salaries may, and most likely will, be increased, 
for a time, at least. Political salaries, first; Indus- 
trial salaries, next. And, still, in countries like the 
United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentine 
Republic and Chili, a great deal will have to be 
done by those who reap the fat harvests from large 
contracts, to provide the means wherewith the 
''faithful," their workers, may be enabled to pay 
their just Church dues and, little by Httle, re-finance 
their Church. 

After the War, we have the aftermath. The 
Expense of reconstruction, of reorganization, of 
Church aid and relief. 

And it will not be a light or inexpensive task, 
for the Roman Catholic World, as such, confronted 
by enormous difficulties, to again carry out those 
elaborate, well-conceived plans, designed to secure 
for their Church alone^ — the hegemony of the 
globe. 

Every week, every month, every year of this dire 
War, ended, has but added to the heavy financial 



I02 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

reckoning, later; and, if for no other reason than 
this; that Her material prosperity is financially 
jeopardized; the Roman Pontiff and the Roman 
Catholic Church for this cause, must daily become, 
more and more, insistent on an ending of all War ; 
irrespective of the underlying motives, original dif- 
ferences or racial influences, that cause it. No 
other logical attitude is possible. 

'Tet us have Peace'' will soon be, not simply a 
wish; not simply a prayer, even. But the insist- 
ent, dominating purpose, policy and command of 
Roman Catholicism's able Pontiff. And, for those 
of us, who, mindful of our common humanity, live 
daily in the midst of War's cruel alarms and 
threats, that day of Peace cannot come too quickly. 



ON PRESIDENTIAL PRE-WAR APHORISMS 

"Muzzle not the ox that treadeth out the corn." 

The God ''Prejudice" — servile, illiberal, stunted, 
narrow, relentless — uses the fetishes — Religion, 
War, Science, Hygienics, Eugenics, Fashion, 
Form, Custom, Law, Convention, Sex and Educa- 
tion; to stir up discord and make the human race 
weak, ignorant, debilitated, debauched and impo- 
tent. 

Galileo, Columbus and our immortal Washing- 
ton, triumphed over Him and, therefore, deserve 
our plaudits, for their independence, both of mind 
and action. 



PRESIDENTIAL PRE-WAR APHORISMS 103 

The Gary System. — A Plan of Peace, Prepared- 
ness, International Arbitration, Public Ownership, 
are subjects that, offend this God; and which, as 
not encouraging strict neutrality in thought — He 
holds taboo. 

Yet we know. Truth must triumph — and al- 
though, *'Too proud to fight,'' as a nation, we seek 
to attain the impossible and ''be neutral in thought," 
we know such a condition is a palpable absurdity; 
no matter who is sponsor for such a misconception 
of our human nature. Neutral in action, we may 
be; but never, in thought; unless we choose igno- 
rance or darkness, rather than information and 
light. It is the Great God, Prejudice, who favors 
such errors and exaggerates them, for individual 
or partisan purposes. Human frailty, well knows, 
as the Bible says, that ''A strong man armed, keep- 
eth his house," and common sense teaches us that 
''Forewarned is forearmed." 

Why should Race, Sectarianism, Patriotism, not 
be touched upon, in general, where incidental to a 
general subject, or where admirable features of the 
same may be adduced, as or by way of illustra- 
tion. To do otherwise, limits personal freedom 
and renders us as culpable as the one v/ho sup- 
ports a false modesty in connection with the facts 
of life. Anything is proper that involves the gen- 
eral good. "And I see that through the ages, one 
unceasing purpose runs, for the mind of man is 
broadened with the progress of the suns." 



I04 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



LIGHT.— LIFE.— SPIRIT 

In the beginning was the heaven and the earth, 
and the earth was without form and void, and 
darkness was upon the face of the deep. 

And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of 
the waters, and God said : "Let there be Light, and 
there was — Light." And the evening and the 
morning was the first day. 

And God said: "Come now, and let us make 
Man, after our own image." 

And God breathed into him, the breath of Life, 
and Man became a Hving thing and stood upon his 
feet. — Genesis. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 
was with God, and the Word was God, and the 
Word became Life and dwelt among Men, and we 
beheld in Him, as it were, the glory, as of the 
Father; full of grace, mercy and truth; even, the 
express image of the Father's Person, for his Life 
was the Light of the World. 

For every good gift and every perfect gift 
Cometh down from above, from the Father of 
Light; with Whom is neither variableness, nor, 
shadow of turning. 

To a human being: Light and Life are both 
necessary; as necessary, as to the vegetable world. 
Are there two kinds of each? Natural and Spirit. 
It would seem so. Two kinds of Light; one, a 



LIGHT— LIFE—SPIRIT i og 

mysterious, but natural agent. The Light of day: 
The Light of the body is the eye; if now, thine 
eye be darkened, thy whole body is filled with dark- 
ness. This is of a physical or natural sort. The 
other, a mysterious spiritual influence whether in 
the body or out of the body, I cannot tell; but 
which illumines the mind with knowledge, whether 
there is physical blindness or not. Just as Natural 
Light is as necessary as on the first day of crea- 
tion, to the Universe and Natural Life; so is 
Spiritual Light, or Mental Understanding, to Man 
himself. 

If Natural Light is accompanied by Natural Life, 
may we not conjecture that Spiritual Light is ac- 
companied by Spiritual Life, although we perceive 
it no more than in the former case. May not Rea- 
son exist, as Light, independent of mortal confines ; 
as the body of Spirit Life? It would appear 
so. No man hath, at any time, seen the Father. 

Man, therefore, is of a dual nature : Natural and 
Spiritual. Supply all his material, physical wants 
and he, yet, lacks something. Give him the use of 
all his faculties : mental, moral, or physical ; he, yet, 
yearns for something; that something is Spirit: 
Spiritual Light and Spiritual Life. 

For, when God first created Man, "He made him 
after his own image (Reason), and breathed into 
him the breath of Life'' (Purpose). He cannot, 
as an immortal product, stand still. He must ad- 
vance himself, and Nature. "So Man became a 
living thing," endowed with Spirit from on high, 



io6 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

"and stood upright, upon his feet/' Not hke a 
brute, with its nose in the dust. 

But the Spirit of Man is weak, unless sup- 
ported by God's Spirit; and God's Spirit being 
inclined to consume Man in his perversity. 
God said: *'My Spirit shall not always strive 
with Man's Spirit, lest he perish from the 
way." 'Tor He remembereth, we are dust." There- 
fore, as a finished type of what Man should 
be, in the fullness of Time He sent His Son, the 
Christ, of whom it was prophesied: ''A broken 
reed shall he not break and the smoking flax will 
he not quench." Man, ^'having received the gift 
of Christ and the promise with Him, of the Holy 
Spirit: Who is able to make one wise unto salva- 
tion," ''must now, work out his own salvation, with 
fear and trembling, because the times are evil and 
not good;" yet, are we not left comfortless; ''for 
God so loved the world, that He gave His only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, 
should not perish, but have everlasting Life." 

"The Word having become flesh and tabernacled 
among us, for a season; we have the testimony 
of His broken body and shed blood ; that so dying, 
the just for the unjust, we might through Him 
inherit the promise of eternal life. Therefore, 
through Him, we have an inheritance, incor- 
ruptible, undefiled, not made with hands, 
eternal in the heavens, that fadeth not away." 
And it is to this inheritance, that the Spirit of 
God attracts Man, and it is for this purpose that 



LIGHT-LlFBSPlRir 107 

our Spiritual Life exists, and, should be developed. 
*'For, we are saved, not by right, nor by might, but 
by God's Spirit, working within us; both to will 
and to do." ''And we know that without Him, we 
can do nothing." ''Man shall not live by bread 
alone, but by every Word that falleth from the 
mouth of God." "Blessed are ye, if ye keep my 
commandments," sayeth Christ. "Not every man 
that sayeth unto me Lord ! Lord ! shall enter the 
Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will 
of my Father, which is in Heaven." "Be ye not 
only hearers of the Word, but doers also." "Mar- 
vel not that I say unto you ; ye must be born again. 
It is the Spirit that quickeneth." 

And now, wherefore this Spiritual Life, which 
comes with Spiritual Light: Having obtained it, 
are we to stand idly gazing up into Heaven help- 
lessly. No; we are to go out into the World, 
thoroughly inspired unto all good works and preach 
Christ's tidings of great joy which shall be to all 
people." "Freely ye have received, freely give. We 
are to let our Light so shine before men that they, 
beholding our good works, shall glorify our 
Father who is in Heaven." And, for every good 
deed done, remember there is the promised reward. 
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the 
least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto 
me." 

The vineyard is a vast one, but the laborers are 
few: Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, therefore, 
that He send laborers into the harvest. And, 



io8 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

above all else, in your work, ''resist not the Holy 
Spirit, lest He flee from you/' 

Life, Light and Spirit — how necessary. 

'True religion is to love the fatherless and 
widowed and keep ourselves unspotted from the 
world/' If we follow the Right, the Kingdom of 
Heaven is within us. The God of Reason and of 
Purpose reigns. 

And now, in conclusion, is there any room to 
doubt the existence of Spirit, of Spirit Life or of 
Spirit Power. We feel the wind, but who can say 
"whence it cometh or whither it goeth ; for it blow- 
eth where it listeth." We feel an electric shock; 
we do not see, nor do we know, what electricity is. 
By its power, we can converse with all the ends 
of the earth, or can transmit a picture or photo. 
It is subtle, evanescent, but we are convinced it is 
diffused like light and life through the Universe 
and it has great power. Take the wireless tele- 
graph or telephone, and if the sending and receiv- 
ing instruments be not properly synchronized, there 
is no proper message. May it not be the same with 
our souls, and the Great God or Spirit, the essence 
of all things and the Life or Power thereof. 
Electricity we have long since found out to be dual 
in its nature. It is positive and negative, the two 
elements having a decided antipathy to one another, 
like the white and red corpuscles of our blood, yet 
by their tendencies to go in opposite directions we 
have the electric current. May there not well be 
Good and Bad Spirit Power, with the better un- 



LIGHT— LIFE—SPIRIT 109 

derstanding, and will of the Good, always in the 
ascendant; good and bad souls also, as magnetized 
by their willing approach to either pole. Do not let 
us be too sure of ourselves. I hear a voice; my 
ears tell me it is the voice of a friend, but on inves- 
tigation, I find it to be the voice on a phonograph 
of him who has long since passed away. How, 
then, with the voices, the thoughts, within us, that 
play upon our brain cells. Among them may there 
not be the voice of the Great Spirit, or of ''Him, 
who being dead yet speaketh.' We are told also 
that ''the Evil Spirit (negative) goeth about seek- 
ing whom he may devour." Is it not reasonable to 
suppose this ; for we are fearfully and wonderfully 
made, and our brain cells are but the life records, 
with what they contain, of our daily progress. The 
Recording Angel's tally sheet. Take again. Light, 
necessary to life, and which works wonders among 
us. Take the X-ray and no longer do solid sub- 
stances seem so, when we perceive how readily it 
passes through them. So nothing opposes an im- 
penetrable barrier to the unseen Spirit and the all- 
seeing Eye. With us always even to the end; 
when that that is of the earth, earthy, goeth to 
corruption, and that that is of the Spirit, liveth 
unto hfe everlasting. If matter is indestructible 
except as to form; how about Spirit? the moving, 
controlling force within us. 



no THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



ALASKA AND ITS RESOURCES 

Essay and Address delivered at the Commencement of the 
Central High School of Philadelphia, June 25, 1885. 

History informs us, that in the year 1867, the 
government of the United States purchased from 
that of Russia, all the territory now known as 
Alaska for the sum of $7,200,000 in gold. Thus 
did that vast tract, nearly 600,000 square miles in 
area, extending from latitude 54° 40' North to the 
Glacial Ocean, and from the 131st to the I72d 
meridian of West Longitude pass quietly and peace- 
fully over to our government. Like all other great 
steps of governmental policy, this one failed not 
at the time, to have its full share of public com- 
ment. Severe and sarcastic were the criticisms 
of the press. Secretary Seward was accused of 
wastefulness and extravagance, and for quite a 
time the central government stood almost alone in 
the storm of indignation and reproach. Sumner's 
magnificent oration in behalf of the purchase fell 
unheeded on the public ear. The new territory was 
designated as a vast, barren, sterile wilderness; a 
rocky, unreclaimable waste, ice-bound, uninhabit- 
able and desolate. 

Should you ask what real grounds existed for 
such general dissatisfaction, I would reply: none. 
Ignorance was the sole cause of the ferment which 



ALASKA AND ITS RESOURCES iii 

ensued. Alaska had always been regarded, on ac- 
count of its high northern latitude, as a country 
perpetually covered with ice and snow, with no 
vegetation but the lichen, no inhabitant but the 
Esquimaux. As a country in which the polar bear 
and seal alone could take delight. Imagination 
pictured Alaska with lofty glaciers arrayed against 
the entrance of man; as a land over which the 
Frost king held supreme sway, so that the mist 
could not be penetrated by civilized man. Were 
this the reality there might indeed have been true 
cause for censure. 

But leaving all suppositions and opinions based 
on mere map knowledge, it will be well to consider 
Alaska in the true light in which it presents itself 
to modern science and investigation. In the first 
place, then, we behold a country rich in deep bays, 
good harbors, and navigable rivers, with a coast 
line long enough to reach around the globe. The 
value of this, the political economist well knows. 
The historian recognizes its influence upon society. 
Professor Guyot has remarked, "that deeply in- 
dented and well articulated countries, under or- 
dinary circumstances, ever have been and ever will 
be the abodes of the most highly civilized nations." 
If this be so, then we should have high hopes for 
Alaska, which is rich not only in means of outlet, 
but in many other attractive, natural features. It 
is not, as many have supposed, a comparatively 
level country. Mountains and valleys are perhaps 
found here as frequently as in any other portion 



112 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

of the world. Deep and almost impenetrable 
forests add grandeur and sublimity to the land- 
scape. So that, although the ground be not always 
green or the sky always clear, there is yet some- 
thing to invite the lover of majestic nature. 

Let us now see what the resources are, for a 
country so highly favored otherwise should surely 
have something to invite commercial enterprise. 
We find here, as has already been said, large, al- 
most illimitable, forests. Here may be found the 
Spruce, the Cedar, the Hemlock and the Pine. We 
see the value of this, especially when it has been 
said, "that there is not a beam or a spar needed 
in land or in naval architecture, but what could be 
obtained from these same woods." Here then is 
a part of the country's wealth. But is this all? 
No! There are other circumstances which render 
this country of value to us. We find the woods 
and the waters teeming with animal life. The chief 
wealth of Alaska, or a considerable portion of it, 
is in her creatures. It is said that the annual 
rental of two small islands engaged in the seal 
fisheries brought the government $3,000,000 in nine 
years. The exports of the Russian-American Fur 
Company amount annually in worth, it is said, to 
$6,000,000. Fish are extremely plentiful in Alaskan 
waters. The eastern portion of Behring Sea, bor- 
dering upon Alaska, has been called a vast reservoir 
of tod, and facts seem to show that this is the case. 
The rivers abound with salmon of good size and 
quality; while another creature, the sperm whale, 



ALASKA AND ITS RESOURCES 113 

visits the coast. In 1867, the annual catch of 
twenty-seven American vessels employed in the 
coast fisheries amounted to a hundred tons ; placing 
the cost of the outfit and labor at $3000 and the 
price paid per pound for fish at 93^ cents, we can 
easily calculate the gain. 

Another source of wealth ijiust not be omitted; 
the land is quite rich in minerals. Gold, copper, 
iron, gypsum and marble are found. Iron is par- 
ticularly abundant. Mountains are found here the 
very dust of whick adheres to the magnet. Here, 
also, we find, in large quantities, the best bitu- 
minous coal on the Pacific slope. Petroleum floats 
upon the surface of the lakes. With all these things 
to attract capital, may we not look forward to the 
day which shall see Alaska a manufacturing state, 
taking a prominent position in the affairs of the 
West. 

Is the country, as some have supposed, too cold 
for habitation! Of course, extending through so 
many degrees of latitude, we must naturally expect 
to find great differences of temperature. The 
northern part of Alaska, it is true, is intensely cold. 
In the central portion, after a long winter, conies 
a short and often very warm summer. The entire 
southern portion however, bordering upon the 
coast, en j oy s a comparatively mild climate. The mean 
annual temperature of the winter being about equal 
to that of Kentucky. The climate, in general, is 
much modified by the influence of a warm current 
similar to our Gulf Stream. This current sweeps 



114 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

from the warm islands of Asia to the northwestern 
coast of America, and so much mitigates what 
would otherwise be Arctic severity, that even a 
luxuriant vegetation is rendered possible. Potatoes, 
cabbage and cauliflower flourish. Till the soil and 
it will pay the labor. Yet this is the territory at 
which people scoffed, at whose prospects we 
sneered. As time rolls on, and its development 
proceeds, the American people may yet be forced 
to acknowledge this as one of the richest and most 
profitable of their possessions. 



An oration delivered at a meeting of the Massapequa Club 
of the 21 st Assembly District of New York, during 
the World War, on, 

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends, Citizens, Neighbors 
and Voters: 

It seems superfluous for me to mention that we 
gladly welcome you, one and all, upon this aus- 
picious occasion; this first,- notable, entertainment 
and reception of the Massapequa Club of the 2ist 
Assembly District of New York. 

I am not, in any sense, a governmental official, 
national, state or city. I am not, even, an officer 
of the Club, whose hospitality I am here with your- 
selves to enjoy; and, in addition, it is, perhaps, 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 115 

doubtful, as to whether I can even class myself 
as an "honorary" member; and yet, although I 
speak without the previous stamp and approval of 
any recognized authority, I have been invited, to- 
night, by some of my Harlem Democratic friends 
and party workers, to address you ; and, if you will 
give me but a few minutes of close attention, I 
will do so, for I have something of a serious, but 
practical, sort for you to consider. 

As a native-born American of our common coun- 
try, whose father took part in the Civil War for 
its preservation, it is not at all surprising that I 
am interested in whatever, vitally, concerns it; its 
proper development, its aims, its policies, its parties 
and its alliances; as such, I address you. 

As one who has been, also, in times past, admit- 
tedly, an independent, but who is, to-day, a regis- 
tered voter of the Democratic party, I address you. 

Our beloved country did not accomplish its in- 
dependence under George Washington and his as- 
sociates, but through sanguinary strife and much 
turmoil. Nevertheless, our forefathers laid a sure 
foundation for our present and future greatness as 
a nation, when they builded upon our glorious 
Declaration of Independence and our United States 
Constitution. The first reciting the wrongs en- 
dured, and the demand that we should be free and 
independent states; and the second (our liberty ac- 
complished), prescribing, as expressed in the pre- 
amble, such limitations upon government, that it 
should always have before it the definite object and 



Ii6 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

intent of the founders: ''That, we, the people of 
the United States, in order to form a more perfect 
union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, 
provide for the common defense, promote the gen- 
eral welfare and secure to ourselves and our pos- 
terity the blessings of liberty, which we already en- 
joy; do ordain and estabhsh this Constitution for 
the United States of America." 

To-night, let us consider, briefly, whether the 
conditions and ends, as purposed, by those who 
framed our Constitution, have been fully met. 

Do we have to-day a "more perfect union"? In 
some respects, yes; but, in relation to our militia; 
to marriage and divorce; to the adequate punish- 
ment of Crime; to the problems of Taxation, of 
Transportation, of Labor, of Suffrage, etc., could 
we not have more uniformity, on the part of our 
State Legislatures. 

Do we have to-day ''justice established"? We 
have courts of law, 'tis true; and they are many 
and various. But, as to Justice — I have my doubts. 
One has only to read a recent novel by Mr. Trevor 
T. Hill, entitled, "The Thirteenth Juror," to be con- 
vinced that our system of justice, almost chaotic, 
still requires more of truth, honor and manly prin- 
ciple. 

"Justice." I have been a lawyer, in active prac- 
tice, and I have had many opportunities of study- 
ing — not justice, but its counterfeit — misapplied 
law. Never, in my opinion, will we have true jus- 
tice until every citizen that, blamelessly, suffers 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 117 

wrong, tinder pretext, form or force of Law, be 
duly compensated by the government. National, 
State, or City, for the injury sustained. Nay; to 
such a point would I carry this demand, that I 
would insist on a public testimonial, all costs paid, 
and a substantial monetary reward from the Na- 
tion, State or City, as well, to the brave, patriotic 
citizen, who has had the courage and the grit to 
fight for his civil rights in courts of law; until an 
unconstitutional law, or obnoxious ordinance, is 
judicially declared to be such, or incontinently 
rescinded. I would put a premium on civic vir- 
tue, and the stamp of disapproval upon the dis- 
honest or incompetent legislator. 

We should have not only Public Prosecutors, 
but Public Defenders, Public Administrators and 
Public Lawyers, paid by the State, to give free ad- 
vice and assistance to the poor, just as your Board 
of Health Doctor, or Hospital Physician, gives his 
services to the sick. It was one of the Barons' 
demands upon King John, in ancient days, in the 
days of Magna Charta, that the sovereign people 
should not have to buy "justice." To-day, the costs 
of law are prohibitive. 

Again; are you satisfied with the measure of 
''domestic tranquillity'' which we enjoy? How 
many bomb outrages? How many murders, sui- 
cides, preventable fires, accidents, strikes and strike 
outrages have we had recently? 

Where, again, either under the Civil Service or 
elsewhere, does the honest man get a chance, where 



Ii8 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

ability of the proper sort is considered, as the prime 
requisite? Are all our many agencies of health, 
or social welfare, of education, of law, of religion, 
of government, of charitable enterprise, tending to 
achieve the most beneficial, tangible results? Or, 
are the poor, the aged, the infirm, the unfortunate, 
treated too often with selfish indifference or delib- 
erately ignored? 

I wish I could say more for our community ; but 
I doubt if it functions aright; for I have learned 
through hard and bitter experience and *'Usus 
Magister optimus est." (Experience is the best 
teacher.) We are noted abroad for our bluster, 
and we are noted at home for our ''bluff.'' We are 
good fellows, when it comes to putting one over, 
on the other fellow. We do ''jolly" all right, and, 
where there is wealth back of it, we admire ''cant" 
and bow to "hypocrisy"; but to all this there is 
generally a come-back. 

Again, I say. Are you satisfied with our past 
or present provision for the "common defense"? 
If you feel amply secure with what is occurring 
in Europe, as an object lesson before us, I will have 
nothing more to say on this subject. If you do not, 
then I would say, by all means, let us bestir our- 
selves; get ships, get guns, get ammunition, get 
men, get every requisite necessary, and let us de- 
mocratize the West Point and Annapolis idea, by 
having a military academy; yea, and a naval 
academy, wherever possible; of the like standing 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 119 

and basis, and no whit inferior in any respect, in 
each and every State. 

Let our boys, on reaching a certain school age, 
come under miUtary instruction, and our girls, too 
if necessary, that they may learn the art and science 
of war, and how to shoot straight, while enjoying 
the blessings of peace. 

And now, in conclusion. Our Constitution was 
designed "to promote the general welfare," and 
through representative government; through our 
guaranteed rights of life, liberty, property, and the 
pursuit of happiness — through our right to the free 
exercise of religious worship ; through our freedom 
of speech and of the press — let us bestir ourselves 
to accomplish this great mission, which has of late 
been so badly neglected. 

It behooves us, as citizens of our Grand Republic ; 
as well wishers and supporters of Truth, Honor, 
Law, Respectability and Justice; as lovers of our 
common country, for which already so many sac- 
rifices of life have been made; that we, inheritors 
of a glorious Past, of noblest ideals; should put 
down the greed, the graft, the public looting, the 
wholesale swindling, that is on every hand, pre- 
paring our Native Land for a fate like that of 
Ancient Rome — an Empire that fell, not from the 
efforts of the foe without, but on account of the 
canker, the corruption within. 

But, you may ask, How can we do it? 

I will tell you. You may do it through an or- 
ganization of the right sort. Be good citizens^ 



I20 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

first, and ''party" men, second. Do not, however, 
expect to succeed alone. Get together. If you are 
a RepubUcan, a Sociahst or a Prohibitionist, be 
ready, at all times, to join with your party, in up- 
holding the principles that honestly appeal to you 
as a member of that party. If you are a Demo- 
crat, — and I hope, on this occasion, we are mostly, 
staunchly, such, and such by a sure conviction, 
that we have at this juncture a most sacred mis- 
sion; — to promote forthwith the public welfare, I 
would ask you, each and all, to take hold of the 
party machinery. Do not rest content with being 
merely a cog on the wheel. Get up and be busy. 
Make your influence felt. Join some good, enter- 
prising, pushing Democratic organization, such as 
the Massapequa Club, and then — go to work in 
earnest. 

Many of you are quite young men, to-day. 
Ready for life's battles; eager for the poHtical 
fray. Many of the old — the aged — have had their 
day and are entitled to rest on their laurels; but it 
is not so with you. 

Now is the Great Day. Your Country needs 
you. Enlist, to-day, against the common foe of all 
civilizations that have ever existed. Drive out of 
office the demagogue, the incompetent, the grafter, 
the salary grabber and booster, the bribe-giver and 
the bribe-taker. Let us do away with the corrupt 
boss and the ''slush'' fund. Let us purify, not only 
our political, but our industrial and social life, as 
well. For, if you do not, the magnitude of the 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 121 

swindling, public and private, that is going on to- 
day, throughout the nation, with its, all too few, 
elements, that stand for public and private honor, 
honesty and decency — disorganized or disunited — 
will surely lead eventually to some cataclysmal re- 
sult, that will cause the downfall of our American, 
democratic institutions, and, perhaps, the loss of 
our Civil Liberty, throughout the nation. 

Young men of Harlem— Democrats — the Massa- 
pequa Club desires you to unite with it, in a com- 
mon cause. A good, convenient, club room awaits 
you. Mr. George Schaeffer, the affable president, 
who has been a candidate for district leader and, 
lately, for alderman, and who understands as a busi- 
ness man, the local needs of the neighborhood, and 
whose sympathetic disposition and ever ready wil- 
lingness to oblige a friend, an acquaintance or 
neighbor, has procured for him the respect of all, 
and endeared him, in our regard, as one qualified 
for future leadership or other high office; waits to 
give you the welcoming hand of good fellowship. 
All the other officers are, likewise, men of esti- 
mable character, whom you would find it a pleasure 
to know, if you have not already made their 
acquaintance. ''Why stand ye here idle.'' 

And now a parting word to the Ladies : Even if 
you lack the vote, as yet, you can surely make your 
influence felt in behalf of Democratic ideals. 
Boost the Massapequa Club and its president, Mr. 
Schaffer. I will close with a few lines from Long- 
fellow's "Psalm of Life." 



122 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, 
Life is but an empty dream; 

For the soul is dead that slumbers. 
And things are not what they seem. 

Life is real. Life is earnest — 
And the grave is not its goal; 

Dust thou are, to dust returnest 
Was not spoken by the Soul. 

Let us then be up and doing 
With a heart for any fate. 

Still achieving; still pursuing; 
Learn to labor and to wait. 



BRITISH WOMEN AND THE WORLD WAR 

Letter to the London Times, written in 191 5, prior to the 
entry of the United States into the War. 

Editor of The London Times: 

Dear Sir. — At a time v^hen all the vital energies 
and agencies of the British Empire — military, 
naval, commercial, industrial, financial, scientific, 
educational, spiritual and economic — are involved 
and taxed to the utmost, in conjunction with those 
of her trusted allies, in a titanic, merciless, weari- 
some, long-enduring struggle, to put an end for- 
ever, through the harsh arbitrament of a san- 
guinary, necessary war, to the unjust ambitions and 
aspirations of a powerful European State; such as 
Austro-Hungary, and, to the armed, insolent pre- 
tensions and aggressions of a still more forceful 



BRITISH WOMEN AND THE WORLD WAR 123 

German, military machine, with its tyrannical pro- 
gramme of World conquest — it is but, eminently, 
fitting, that each and every idea or suggestion that 
may emanate — no matter how novel or whence the 
source, and have a value, as tending to the success- 
ful prosecution of this war, or to the upbuilding of 
the general prosperity of the nation in the future — • 
should be adequately, carefully, and, with a free- 
dom from all past prejudices and predilections, 
fully considered. 

I am an American by birth, but I am of British 
ancestry, and proud of it; and by reason of this 
fact I am going to offer what may prove a helpful 
suggestion, not only as providing a new, determin- 
ing factor in the alignment of useful forces, but, 
also, one of such a character as to provide more 
certainly for a diminution of economic pressure on 
home finances, when this sorry struggle is over. 

Has any one clearly considered, that there are 
multitudes of single women — ^young, brave, highly- 
spirited, hardy, athletic, adventurous, reckless of 
danger, sportsmanlike, good shots (mounted or 
afoot) — who, if brigaded together or in separate 
companies, would be, if permitted, only too ready 
to respond to a call to arms. 

They would don the uniform of their country; 
trousers, boots, and all, even; as more seemly for 
the trench work in hand, and thus clad, after pre- 
liminary drill and training, well-officered, well- 
equipped, would gladly fight for, or, if need be, die 



124 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

for their country, in company with their brothers 
in arms. 

And all this is nothing more than what many of 
the suffragette leaders claim as but a part of the 
Woman Suffrage plan for the future ; to secure this 
right ; if women ever obtain the franchise. 

And why, may I ask, should not their services 
in an emergency like this be accepted? Will it 
make any difference to a German, if he is riddled 
by a rifle or machine gun in the hands of a man 
or a womati. Women in athletics, in this country, 
the United States, bid fair to overtake the men's 
field records. Only recently, at the University of 
Indiana, a young woman student athlete vaulted 
with the pole 6 ft. i in., beating the best previous 
woman's record by five inches. 

Now, as to another, the economic side of this 
question. Consider our Civil War of 1861 in the 
United States; and, what the U. S. Government 
is and has been annually paying out for pensions 
as a result of that war; not only to the men who 
fought in it, but to their wives and children; and 
can it reasonably be contended, that any measure, 
which, in the beginning, would have rendered less 
considerable this annual expense, should not have 
been resorted to. Perhaps prejudice played a part 
then, but it should not be allowed to do so to-day. 
Therefore, I say, give every eligible single man or 
woman, properly qualified physically, a chance to 
enlist; but bar out all married men and women, 
as tending, otherwise, to make Britain's burden of 



BRITISH WOMEN AND THE WORLD WAR 125 

the future, with its responsibilities for child wel- 
fare, the aged, or the maintenance of marital ties — 
too crushing for the State. 

We are not living as in the days of old; as in 
the time of Joan of Arc; when heavy armor was 
necessary, and men fought with heavy lance, sword 
or battle-axe. No longer, either, as even some fifty 
years ago, are heavy muskets required. Modern 
rifles of deadly mechanism are light and easily 
handled; and, as to equipment, who is there that 
has studied the stalwart woman equestrienne, 
swimmer or mountain-climber in action, that would 
not, at once, assign her the full status and uniform 
of the male. 

Give the young, single woman a chance, Mr. 
Asquith, to fight for her native land, her home, her 
country; even, if, so far, they have been denied 
a greater measure of civil liberty — the right to vote. 

Yours truly, 
W. Walker Hanna, A.M., Esq. 

N. B. — Since the War, women in Great Britain, 
as well as in the United States, have been granted 
the right of suffrage, the right to serve on juries, 
and to hold office. 

The Author. 



126 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 



WOULD WE SURRENDER? 

It was a momentous question. Boston had fallen 
and now, at last, New York City, with its bound- 
less wealth centered therein or controlled there- 
from, lay helplessly bound within the insatiable 
grasp of the unopposable, inappeasable, relentless, 
dread invader. Every face was blanched with fear. 
Every heart palpitated with alarm from the nerv- 
ous tension. Quivering eyes and faltering tongues 
with dire forebodings challenged an answer. The 
stoutest minds and the strongest arms, alike stood 
aghast at what had befallen. Paralyzed, seemingly, 
with the extent of the national misfortune and the 
hardships of the well-nigh hopeless situation. 
Anxiety was everywhere. 

With no available means for a further armed 
resistance. Genius was powerless and hung her 
head. The United States of America, with her 
;iavies destroyed and her armies defeated had 
fallen. Her boasted republican form of government 
had proven unequal to the burdens and to the 
tasks, so suddenly, thrust upon it. 

The nations of the world friendly to American 
ideals would have supplied arms and ammunition, 
with means to prolong the struggle, perhaps; but 
they also were awed, too much so, by the dire fea- 
tures of the catastrophe. The national credit was 
hopelessly ruined. The enemy's flag was every- 
where — the American flag had almost disappeared. 



WOULD WE SURRENDER I27 

Suddenly, as if an electric spark had illuminated 
the atmosphere, came the rumor, a whisper here, 
a word there, yet sufficient to restore some slight 
degree of public confidence. ''Washington is en- 
gaged upon a serious consideration of the prob- 
lem. The President of the United States, at last, 
has acted and has hastily called Congress together, 
in opposition to the wishes of his Secretary of 
State, a pork-barrel statesman; who has resigned 
in order to make way for the people's fearless 
champion of Non-Resistance and International 
Peace, Wm. J. Butter; who, by his matchless 
oratory, although in opposition to his party, 
hitherto, has usually, to some degree, dominated its 
councils." 

''Said I not," remarked an old and armless 
veteran, "that if he had been heard in the beginning 
this would not have happened. What is the use 
of War anyway? Behold the Chinese, who sub- 
mitted to Japan to avoid conquest, are to-day a 
happy, prosperous, contented people. 

"Good government may be obtained just as well 
under a foreign power, as through our own efforts. 
What's in a name anyway? Why is it not just as 
good to be called a European, for instance, as an 
American, if your individual freedom and happi- 
ness are guaranteed? The Irish, years ago, fought 
for an Irish Republic and, see what happened ; they 
were absolutely exterminated." 

That night at 10 o'clock, the news was in all the 
extra editions of the evening papers. Washington 



128 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

had secured the assent of the foe's Field Marshal 
to a truce, in order to tender proposals for a cessa- 
tion of hostilities. Meanwhile, from the enemy's 
capital, by wireless came positive insistence on an 
immediate accession to the foe's demands; which 
involved the payment of $3,000,000,000 War in- 
demnity, and the instant surrender of all territory 
east of the Mississippi, as a guarantee for payment. 
The Atlantic sea-board, however, and the Gulf 
coast to the mouth of the Mississippi to be perma- 
nently relinquished, the boundary inland to follow 
the coast at a distance of some 800 miles therefrom. 
The enemy being thus resolved upon reaping the 
full rewards of his victory. 

Harsh were the terms, but ''unto the victors be- 
long the spoils." At midnight, one of the most sen- 
sational newspapers had secured definite informa- 
tion that the Hon. Wm. J. Butter, the new Secre- 
tary of State, had prevailed upon the President 
to sign, with the assent of the Senate, in the pres- 
ence of the enemy's Field Marshal, a treaty of 
Peace, recognizing the demand for the indemnity 
sought, and accepting, furthermore, all other con- 
ditions. In return, the foe expressly agreed to per- 
mit the United States to be again recognized, there- 
after, as a Hague signatory, and made a solemn 
declaration that she would not oppose the Inter- 
national Peace Propaganda, as fathered by Hon. 
Wm. J. Butter and others ; providing it was not ex- 
tended or applied to her territories, or to possessions 
subject to her rule. 



WOULD WE SURRENDER 1^9 

Unnecessary, is it, to describe the mingled emo- 
tions when the intelHgence was received. Crowds, 
where permitted by the authorities, soon gathered 
around the bulletin boards, or discussed together in 
separate groups the conclusion of the struggle. In 
some sections of the country, particularly within 
the limits of the region awarded to the enemy; riots 
of some violence broke out. 

Many of the native-born citizens, allied with such 
patriotic Societies as the Sons of the Revolution, 
Sons of Veterans, etc., by their fiery, fervid 
speeches denouncing the treaty, created such an at- 
mosphere of sedition that the remaining meagre, 
military force, the police and even detachments 
of the enemy's troops, were called upon to put the 
insurrection down. Mercilessly and expeditiously 
this was done and the revolt, at the cost of con- 
siderable blood-shed, suppressed. 

Thus the Hon. Butter's policy was carried out, 
to the joking taunts of the enemy and his allusions 
to the finish of the "blue bloods." 

Peace, at last was won and immediately there 
upon the capital of the Nation was removed from 
Washington, D. C. to Denver, Colorado ; where 
Congress was notified to meet in a month and all 
necessary measures to prevent further disorders 
and to promote the changes necessary to bring about 
tranquillity, were by the assistance of the enemy, 
undertaken. To pay th^ large indemnity proposed 
the President by the advice of his Cabinet, and 
with the support of the leading Senators, suggested 



I30 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

an increase in the income tax to 50 per cent, or 
more; and also, that the laws be amended so as to 
allow for a thorough governmental reorganization — 
An adequate Army and Navy program with a plan 
for universal military conscription and military 
training for the young. The Enemy meanwhile hav- 
ing found a place in the Sun was now the model 
and the marvel of the World and the World's states- 
men. Of all but one, the President's last sugges- 
tions did not meet the indorsement and approval of 
his new Secretary of State, and the Hon. Wm. J. 
Butter forthwith resigned. As an ardent, 'Teace at 
any price'' advocate, who had negotiated the recent 
humiliating treaty, his place was now elsewhere^ — to 
become upon the two hundredth anniversary of the 
founding of the Republic, the candidate for Presi- 
dent of the Party of Non-Resistance, which is 
eagerly awaiting the millennium. 



THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A.D, 131 



THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A.D. AND ITS 
CAUSES 

Written largely during the course thereof. Originally, 
as an address for the New York Bar Association. 

I. Germany. 

To begin with, there was a certain amount of 
suspicion and distrust in Germany, that, ever in- 
creasing, had continued since she had humbled her 
proud adversary, France, in 1870 and 1871, by de- 
priving her of Alsace-Lorraine and imposing an 
enormous war tribute or indemnity of 1,000,000,000 
francs upon her. 

It would be only natural and reasonable, thought 
the calculating German mind, to expect a further 
conflict in retaliation, if France ever became strong 
enough, either alone or in combination with some 
other power or powers, to enter upon an armed 
contest; hence, German policies were enlisted 
against such an occurrence. 

Germany had been much enriched and had 
greatly benefited by the war of 1870; which, while 
it finished imperialism and monarchy in France, 
had left that country again a Republic, although a 
stronger, a more virile one, and more democratic 
than ever; a condition which Bismarck had neither 
foreseen, bargained for, nor desired, as an outcome 
thereof. However, the one greatest, most impor- 



132 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

tant result of the war — important to Germany — 
was the consoHdation into one great empire, under 
the Hohenzollern, Prussian dynasty of William the 
First, of the hitherto confederated, independent 
German States; exclusive, of course, of such as 
still owed allegiance to Francis Joseph and the 
Austro-Hungarian Empire of the Hapsburgs; to 
the south of them. And, from an obvious identity 
of interests, lingual, racial, commercial, industrial, 
political, and otherwise, it required no great 
prophet to predict that, eventually, these two Cen- 
tral European empires would gradually coalesce, 
harmonize their differences, and seek to unify their 
forces; at least, in so far as the complex elements 
of the latter's heterogeneous population, in some 
of its component parts, would allow of this plan. 

German unity and solidarity, having thus been 
definitely and firmly established, in course of time 
a formal treaty, offensive and defensive, with 
Austro-Hungary, further ratified this close rela- 
tionship. And, ere long, as her interests at that 
time demanded it, owing to France's expanding 
colonial growth, along the opposite African coast. 
Italy, a Latin Power, by speech, affinity, law, an- 
tiquity and climate, more nearly related to her 
Southern neighbor France, or more distant Spain, 
on the Mediterranean, was admitted, also, to a full- 
fledged defensive alliance, with the neighboring 
mighty Teutonic Powers, to the Northward; the 
tliree constituting what has since been popularly 
known as the Triple Alliance. 



THE GREAT WAR OF I gi 4 A. D, 133 

2. The Triple Alliance. 

Here, then, were three great powers, stretching 
from the Baltic and the North Seas to the Adriatic 
and the Mediterranean Seas, on the South, and, 
forming a strong barrier, between Russia and 
the Balkans on the one hand, and Great Britain, 
France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland, etc., 
on the other. 

3. Serbia. 

Now, come we, to the more direct, immediate 
causes of the appalling, devastating, fratricidal, re- 
lentless conflict. Centuries ago, when the Crescent 
of Mahomet waved triumphant, in its advance, and 
threatened to overrun and engulf all of Christian 
Europe, until its tide was bravely and effectively 
stemmed, by Charles Martel, the Turks had, among 
other peoples whom they had conquered in their 
Western advance upon Vienna and Hungary, pos- 
sessed themselves of the lands of Serbia, a king- 
dom to the Southward. The vanquished race, how- 
ever, under new masters, still retained their own 
religion and their ancient tongue, and cherished, 
likewise, their national aspirations and traditions, 
and, finally, as the Turkish Power became decadent 
in Europe, the Serb, who is a blood brother of the 
Russian Slav, after several abortive attempts, at 
length, about 1878 a.d.^ succeeded in winning his 
freedom, and, ultimately, his complete independ- 
ence. 

When I say the Serb, however, I am not, strictly 



134 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

speaking, correct. The only part of the ancient 
Serbia that became free was only the contracted 
part, bearing the name that Turkey had continued 
to administer as such. Around and about this sec- 
tion were parts of Old Serbia, such as Montenegro, 
Croatia, Dalmatia, Novi-Bazar, and, more particu- 
larly, Bosnia and Herzegovina; parts where the 
Serbian language was still spoken, where Serbian 
ideals still prevailed, and where Serbian aspirations 
still remained, unfulfilled. Peopled, in other 
words, by those whose aim was to be again united, 
in one government, with the New Serbia — the 
Serbia of promise, the Serbia of the Future. As 
an Irishman is, always, an Irishman, so is a Ser- 
bian, a Serbian; and, for a similar reason. 

4. Poland. 

But, as the Turks withdrew, the more Northern 
and stronger nations and races of Europe not only 
took their place, but began to eagerly bestir them- 
selves; and an appetite arose, whetted by the divi- 
sion of Poland, which, having first thrown oflf the 
Turkish yoke, was herself, somewhat later (over 
a century ago), seized and torn apart by Russia, 
Prussia and Austria, who, then again, like wolves 
of the pack, unappeased, sought anew a chance to 
divide the booty with the strong. 

5. Turkey, the Sick-man of Europe, and Germany. 
Germany, not bordering on the Sultan's domains, 

contented herself, eventually, with a policy of co- 



THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A.D. 135 

lonial expansion, and, although one of the latest 
powers to do so, soon had under her flag, by the 
beginning of the 20th Century, large portions of 
Africa, Australasia, etc., including, in Asia proper, 
Kiau Chau (in China), being barred from the 
Americas by the operation of the Monroe Doctrine. 
She, also, by her great wealth, was able, largely, to 
secure, from the almost bankrupt Turkey, conces-^ 
sion after concession, for railroad and commercial 
development purposes, the same involving large 
tracts in Asia Minor, and, to a more limited ex- 
tent, in European Turkey herself. Which, with 
the added industrial and commercial rivalry of her 
people, soon made her a close competitor with Great 
Britain, the hitherto unchallenged "mistress of the 
seas,'' for the foreign trade of the World. 

Meanwhile, too, under the present Emperor, 
William the Second, she commenced, rapidly, to 
build up her navy, in support of her world-wide 
dream of expansion. Toasts were openly drank 
to "Der Tag" (The Day). Heligoland was ob- 
tained by barter from England in 1890, through ne- 
gotiations with the Earl of Salisbury's administra- 
tion. The Kiel Canal was completed in June of 
1914. And William II was enabled to announce, 
in pompous manner and vainglorious voice, ''that 
the time had come when Germany could command 
a place in the Sun, and must be listened to, in all 
the councils of Europe." 



136 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

6. Great Britain and France. 

Through their growing commerce and more 
boastful aggressiveness, coupled with the fact that 
they had the finest, best equipped army, by con- 
scription, in the world, the Germans grew more 
insistent and arrogant; while the British, at length, 
began to be much alarmed, and, some of the inci- 
dents, in connection with their war in 1900-1902, 
with the Boers of South Africa, wherein the Ger- 
man Emperor was concerned, helped, in general, to 
increase the growing apprehension, suspicion and 
dislike of the British for the Germans, coupled, as 
it was, with serious misgivings and uncertainty as 
to their future peaceful intentions. 

If the latter, in connection with the Morocco 
Question in 1905, or the Agadir incident in 191 1 
A.D.^ were meddlesome^ there was, at the same time, 
no disguising further the coexistent natural po- 
tential, growing resentment of the English and the 
prench towards German expansion and its methods. 

If Germany was overbearing, the others were pa- 
tiently watchful, fully alert, keenly alive to a dan- 
gerous situation and, moreover, resolved, if neces- 
sary, to support one another to the utmost. Thor- 
oughly determined that no longer would they be 
bluflfed, as aforetime, by a threat of force, or the 
^'mailed fist'' of Germany or her Kaiser. The 
political atmosphere was rapidly growing more 
tense. 

At the time of the Marchand-Fashoda incident, 
which led England and France, not to blows, as 



THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A D. 137 

was fully expected, and, indeed, hoped for, by Ger- 
many, but to amicably compose all their differences, 
this was clearly indicated. 

Germany was so enraged at the diplomatic suc- 
cess of the French Foreign Minister, Delcasse, 
whose measures in this crisis had so strongly 
clashed and conflicted with her intents and aims, 
that she threatened France with war immediately, 
unless he resigned from the Cabinet. To avoid 
such a possibility, this noble statesman, an ardent 
and true patriot, did so. This, however, a national 
humiliation, was not to occur again. Delcasse, the 
far-seeing, bided his time, and for the first year 
of the Great War it was the same Delcasse, in 
France, who, more than ever, appreciated at his 
true worth, in such a crisis, became again the wise, 
politic Minister of Foreign Affairs. Able, with im- 
punity, to flout the Kaiser, in security, did he so 
desire. 

7. Russia, 

Russia at this time, or, rather, some years earlier, 
had profited exceedingly by the disintegration of 
the Turkish Power. She had added to her Black 
Sea littoral extensive territories, at her Ottoman 
neighbor's expense; and, as usual, had her eyes 
on that goal of her ambition, Constantinople, the 
ancient seat of the Orthodox Greek Faith and the 
former capital of the Eastern Roman Empire; 
from whose Caesars, she claimed, her own Czars 
had derived the right of succession, upon the fall 



138 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

of the last Greek emperor, in the fifteenth century. 
Control, therefore, of the Dardanelles — a priceless 
boon — she long had sought. 

Shut out from these Straits, and the Mediter- 
ranean, ever since the senseless Crimean War of 
1854-6 A.D. She still, nevertheless, was seeking to 
obtain good seaports for her people and their grow- 
ing commerce. Neither on the Arctic Ocean nor 
on the Baltic did she possess satisfactory harbors. 
After the disastrous Japanese War of 1904-5, more 
than ever, was she shut out from the Pacific. She 
had, at this time, in good faith, however, settled 
down to the practical consummation of vast 
schemes of internal administration, made possible 
through loans of large amounts, obtained from her 
ally, France. These plans, in part, suggested by 
the latter, involving, not only military and naval, 
but agricultural, industrial and commercial im- 
provement and expansion, were bound, in time, to 
awaken to renewed activity the now, not dormant, 
suspicions of Germany and Austria, who were well 
aware of her unceasing, increasing ambition to ad- 
vance Southward; through Europe and through 
Asia Minor or Persia, towards the Mediterranean 
and the Indian Ocean. 

8. The Balkans. 

As the smaller Balkan Nations — Roumania, 
Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Greece, Albania — 
were all, more or less, indebted to Russia, for their 
freedom from the Turk, and as some of them were 



THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A.D. 139 

not only of the same speech and rehgion, but of 
the same Slavic origin, it must be readily admitted, 
jealousy of the Russian, and his influence in their 
affairs, deeply existed, and had some warrant in 
fact. It was frequently charged that the ever- 
recurring disorders among them were directly 
traceable to Russian manipulation and intrigue. 
Russia, upon her part, blamed Austria and her 
secret agents, and so matters progressed. To-day, 
it looks as if both complaints were well founded, 
since both Russia and the Teutonic allies were 
each aiming to dominate the Southward regions, 
by neighboring territories and rich waterways. 

England had obtained Malta, Cyprus, Egypt, 
Aden, etc., and operated the Suez Canal. Who 
would prove her rival? She did not, now, fear 
Russia; but Germany and Austria did; Russian in- 
terests clashed with the Teutonic designs. 

9. Austro-Hungary. 

Austro-Hungary saw her opportunity in 1905 
A.D. and annexed Novi-Bazar, thus securing access 
to Turkey; but Italy protested, and, a new plan 
occurring, Austria, in 1910, hastily withdrew. In 
1908, although in violation of her pledged word 
and the Treaty of Berlin, the new plan was acted 
upon, and Austro-Hungary seized the adjoining 
provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, 
although under the joint protection of Europe, 
nominally belonged to strife-torn Turkey. A revo- 
lution having broken out, wherein the old Sultan 



I40 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

had been deposed by the more democratic Young 
Turks Party, Austro-Hungary, to placate the in- 
dignant Ottomans, proposed a money indemnity, 
and forthwith definitely announced the annexation, 
which her troops had readily accomplished. 

Germany, well pleased at this strategic move, 
stood up and supported her, against the protest of 
Serbia, whose territories bordered the annexed dis- 
tricts, and who threatened war in consequence; 
and, also, as being more desired, against the pro- 
test of the other Great Powers of Europe, who, 
having just settled the terms and conditions of the 
Algeciras Convention, over Morocco; to avoid a 
threatened conflict between Germany and France, 
imminent upon the Kaiser's visit to the crafty Sul- 
tan thereof, were in no mood to seek further 
trouble; and had, therefore, reluctantly to submit, 
with a bad grace, to this miserable, petty misappro- 
priation of an alien race, who really belonged, na- 
tionally, elsewhere, and were thus left to be finally 
exploited, like -another Ireland. 

Realizing, at last, how strong an alliance the 
Triple Alliance was, Russia and France, the one 
to the East, the other to the West thereof — each 
of whom feared the aggressiveness of her power- 
ful neighbor — had now barely formed an offensive 
and defensive alliance, the one with the other; 
Great Britain, to escape complete isolation as a 
Continental Power, to preserve a balance, politi- 
cally, in Europe, as well as to conserve her own 
aims and purposes, entered into separate treaties, 



TEE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A D. 141 

of amity, friendship, and, for the protection of 
common or mutual interests, with France, and also 
with Russia. She had, previously, by a wise treaty 
with Japan, relative to Asiatic affairs and her pos- 
sessions there, fully safeguarded her interests in 
the East. All this, of course, caused great umbrage 
in Berlin and in Vienna, and there were loud criti- 
cisms, directed principally against perfidious Albion, 
and hints that her Irish problem of Home Rule 
should secure a better share of her attention. To 
bring this about, it is even charged that the rifles 
and ammunition, shipped to the Ulsterites and Na- 
tionalists, the two contending factions in Ireland, 
were shipped in contravention of law from Ger- 
many. 

This may have been but a rumor, but it evinced 
the popular belief, that there existed a disposition 
to promote discord. 

10. The Triple Entente. 

This second combination of great European 
powers now began to be known as the Triple En- 
tente and was, naturally, viewed by Germany with 
ever-increasing apprehension and disfavor, as con- 
stituting a menace to the Triple Alliance and its 
objects. Not to be taken by surprise, while all was 
peaceful on the surface and the different Chancel- 
leries of Europe were assuring oije another of their 
mutual esteem, Germany, as the head of the Triple 
Alliance, feverishly redoubled her efforts to im- 
prove the admirable efficiency of her large army, 



142 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

lay up surplus stores, and increase rapidly the 
fighting units of her navy. More than the Krupps 
were kept busy. While Great Britain, through her 
lack of conscription and unpreparedness, and 
France, awed by the military preponderance of her 
more warlike neighbor, sought a world-wide peace, 
through the medium of a Conference or Diplomacy, 
the stage was really being laid for the greatest 
tragedy and catastrophe in the World's history. 
The point of ebullition had been reached. 

II. Direct Cause of War. 

This brings us to the beginning of the confla- 
gration and the immediate Cause of the Great War 
of 1914. 

We have seen how Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
ancient Serbian provinces, were surreptitiously 
acquired by Austro-Hungary, right under the very 
nose of Serbia, and in defiance of Europe, whose 
joint protests were ignored. 

Following the Turco-Italian War of 1911-12, 
which yielded Tripoli to Italy and restored her 
good will towards France, followed the two Bal- 
kan Wars of 1912 and 1913 a.d. The first, be- 
tween the Balkan States and Turkey; the second 
between Bulgaria and her quondam friends and 
foe. The first, a remarkable individual achieve- 
ment; the second, fomented and inspired by 
Austria, who, by her diplomacy in insisting upon 
an autonomous Albania, had restricted Serbia, had 



THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A.D. 143 

reduced her gains from the first war, and had 
barred her from the sea. 

By this second war, she had confidently expected 
Bulgaria, whom she had secretly instigated previ- 
ously to withhold any offer of compensating terri- 
tory to the brave little nation, would vanquish, con- 
quer and greatly weaken the Serbians and leave the 
people an easy prey to Austrian methods of ag- 
grandizement. But, vain the hope, the New Serbia 
proved equal to the occasion; outwitted the diplo- 
macy of Austria, by securing, through Russian sup- 
port; first the active aid of Montenegro and Greece, 
and, subsequently, that of Roumania, through which 
she was enabled to baffle, thrash and humiliate her 
proud enemy, and emerge a Greater Serbia than 
ever. No wonder, as rumor had it. Czar Ferdinand 
of Bulgaria was no longer welcome at Vienna. The 
tool had failed at the critical moment. 

After the Balkan Wars, which in 191 2- 13 had 
resulted in material extensions of the Balkan king- 
doms, Serbia desired, as we have indicated, an out- 
let to the sea, either through Albania, to the Adri- 
atic; or. Southward, to the ^gean. Defeated in 
her justifiable ambition, by the Powers of Europe, 
who, at the instance of Austria and Germany, were 
led to create the German Prince of Weid, ruler of 
an autonomous Albania. Serbia stifled her resent- 
ment, and even while this puppet Prince of a neigh- 
boring, newly created Principality was demon- 
strating daily his incapacity, remained quiescent. 
And well she knew the danger she was in, other- 



144 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

wise. Did disorder occur, on the other side of her 
boundary, over in the new Mpret's domains; trace 
any irresponsible clue to Serbia, and Austrian 
secret agents were at all times ready to carry the 
news of interference to Vienna, that a new '^casus 
belli'' might be found. Again and again it was 
charged she was at work, or the Montenegrins; 
jDUt, investigation proved that the various local in- 
surrections in Albania were invariably due to petty 
jealousies between rival chiefs, or differences be- 
tween the Mahometans and Christians. 

This arrogance of Austria, in compelling the lit- 
tle kingdom to remain isolated from the World, 
was soon to lead to further trouble. Believing, 
from surface indications, that the time was about 
ripe for another march Southward, or, perhaps, 
in preparation for an annexation of the neighbor- 
ing Adriatic-bordering Albania, herself; when 
Itahan scruples and opposition could be met. 
Austria determined upon vast military manoeuvres 
to take place in the summer of 19 14, in the recently 
annexed Slavic provinces of Bosnia and Herzego- 
vina. Serbia, ever awake, through her minister at 
Vienna, made formal protest that there was danger 
iri such a course, as with the Crown Prince of 
Austro-Hungary present in person, some fanatical 
irreconcilables might seize upon the opportunity, in 
the unsettled condition of public affairs, to make 
attempts upon his life. The protest was politic, 
the advice sound and the warning opportune. The 
Minister's representations were coldly ignored. 



THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A.D. 145 

The Crown Prince of Austro-Hungary, with his 
wife, went down to Sarajevo to witness the review, 
and participate in the miUtary exercises, and, while 
there, the prediction was fulfilled, for both he and 
his wife were assassinated by a young Serb of 19, 
Prinzip by name, a native of the annexed provinces. 
Austria, a month later, blamed this desperate act 
on Serbian agitators in Belgrade, the Serbian Cap- 
ital, and, while absolute proof is apparently lack- 
ing on the part of Austria that such was the case, 
it must be conceded that the Arch-Duke, being a 
sworn enemy of the Serbian Kingdom, the success- 
ful act was, no doubt, openly applauded, even in 
high circles, at her capital. 

Be that as it may, the Serbian Kingdom found 
itself charged with having instigated the assassina- 
tion and with complicity in shielding the perpe- 
trators, it being represented that the young assassin, 
who, himself, took all the blame, was but the tool of 
other more powerful personages. This Serbia ve- 
hemently denied, but yielding, at length, to the 
threats and insistence of Austria, agreed to prac- 
tically all the terms of an ultimatum (which was 
later presented), except that of having Austrian 
Judges sit in her territory to try the accused, who 
were yet to be found and produced. She agreed, 
if necessary, to refer this, and other matters in dis- 
pute, to the Hague. This was refused. The 
*'Hour'' for Austria had struck. 

Russia, appealed to by Serbia, came promptly to 
her aid. Germany backed up Austria, who long 



146 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

had desired Serbia or Serbian control, and the 
War being declared, soon saw France, simple, 
trusting, hopeful France, invaded by Germany 
from neutral Belgium. A sad mistake, a bad blun- 
der for BerUn, this violation of Belgium's neu- 
trality, to attack the French; for, divisions in the 
English Cabinet, over the meditated step, at once 
ceased, and, having dispatched her ultimatum to 
Germany in reference thereto, Great Britain, at its 
expiration, entered the war. The Teuton may jus- 
tify his country, on the ground of "military neces- 
sity,'' but can he truly uphold a morality that stig- 
matizes solemn treaties with small states, such as 
Luxembourg or Belgium, as mere "scraps of 
paper." 

12. Efforts for Peace. 

It is to the credit of France that, supported by 
England, before hostilities commenced, on the part 
of Germany, she suggested either a conference or 
arbitration between Russia and Austria, to dis- 
cuss the status of Serbia, and the extent to which 
a compliance should be had by her, with the Aus- 
trian ultimatum. Russia agreed. Austria refused; 
deeming Serbia too small to merit so much consid- 
eration. Having entered Serbia, she declared it 
was her own affair, and that she would chastise 
Serbia before she would withdraw her troops. 
Russia, thereupon, mobilized her forces along the 
Austrian frontier, thus threatening that country; 
and, also, to a certain extent, strengthened her gar- 



THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 A.D. 147 , 

risons along the German border. This course 
evoked a strong protest from Germany. 

France, whose treaty with Russia reciprocally 
bound each, so that in the event of either being 
attacked by any two of the Great Powers of 
Europe, the other was obliged to lend her aid, to 
prevent friction and avoid any conflict which might 
arise from premature or accidental hostilities, 
withdrew her troops from the German frontier a 
considerable distance. Increasing, meanwhile, her 
diplomatic efforts to eifect a pacific solution, she 
discountenanced a rupture, as being unnecessary. 

Great Britain and France, being now joined by 
Italy, again suggested arbitration or a conference 
of the European Powers; but could not move 
Austria, who, perhaps, had been secretly advised 
by her ally to remain firm. Berlin, being appealed 
to, to use all its influence in behalf of peace with 
Vienna, that the proposal be accepted, positively 
refused to do so; advising, instead, that France 
should seek to have Russia withdraw her assurance 
of aid to Serbia. France replied, that she could 
not see why she should endeavor to persuade her 
friend, Russia, while Germany, with indifference, 
would neither attempt to persuade or dissuade her 
close neighbor Austria. 

England now succeeded in obtaining the con- 
currence of Russia and France in a new scheme of 
arbitration, or conference; but, meanwhrie, Ger- 
many threatened Russia with war, unless she im- 
mediately disbanded her troops and demobilized 



148 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

her army. There being no compliance with this 
rude menace, the formal declaration of hostilities 
issued, and the German army corps were soon in 
motion, armed, equipped and ready for their 
Kaiser's further orders. 

13. Belgium. 

Belgium, since 1838, a neutral kingdom, an in- 
dependent State, lying between Germany and 
France, in the same manner as the independent 
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in alarm, besought 
both prospective belligerents to know whether her 
Neutrality would be respected in the event of hos- 
tilities between them. France, immediately, gave 
notice she would do so. Germany, however, re- 
turned the evasive answer, it would depend upon 
military exigencies. And, so it happened, that Bel- 
gium, in the beginning of August, 19 14, found her- 
self invaded from Germany, and again, as at 
Waterloo, in 181 5, the battleground of nations. 
Luxemburg, entered at the same time, was able to 
make but a feeble protest against the violation, for 
which a pecuniary recompense was promised. Not 
so, Belgium ; she refused to be bribed ; she scorned 
all threats, and notified, the invader she would re- 
sist all efforts to use her territory in an invasion 
of her neighbor, France. 

Notifying the French that she was beset by Ger- 
many, she also besought aid of England, who had, 
in common with Russia, Austria, Prussia and 
France, not only guaranteed her neutrality, but 



THE GREAT WAR OF 191 4 A.D, 149 

also, by a separate instrument made with France, 
to win over French assent, to the original creation 
of an independent Belgium, in 1838, pledged her 
as a neutral State. France, in consternation, imme- 
diately prepared for a mobilization of her army, 
and notified England of the Belgian communica- 
tion. England, her indignation aroused, sent forth- 
with her ultimatum to Germany, who had mean- 
while declared war upon -Russia and France ; as 
Austria, a week later, likewise did upon Russia, and 
Russia upon Austria. This ultimatum was to the 
effect, that unless the invading troops were with- 
drawn from Belgium in 24 hours, the Germanic 
Empire might consider herself as at war with Great 
Britain, also. Germany did not remove her forces, 
but, instead, sought to justify her action and be- 
havior, under the plea of "military necessity''; 
while, at the same time, expressing "regret'' for the 
"consequent violation of treaty and law" ; where- 
upon England, refusing all discussion of other con- 
cessions, immediately dispatched all her available 
forces to the aid of Belgium and France. 

The time for the advance Southward to the 
Mediterranean seemed at hand and propitious. 
Later, German agents won over the Sultan, and 
without any previous declaration, the Turks at- 
tacked Russia and joined the Teutonic allies. Of 
course, Russia's example in proclaiming war with 
Turkey, was followed immediately by her allies, 
who dispatched, first, naval and, later, land forces, 
to capture the Dardanelles, 



ISO THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

14. Italy, 

Italy, declaring the conditions of the Triple Alli- 
ance, implying a defensive coalition, had not been 
strictly fulfilled by Austria, chose at first to remain 
neutral; but later, owing to the failure of Austria 
to give satisfactory assurance of territorial com- 
pensation, by restoring to her the Italian-speaking 
adjoining territories of the Trentino and Trieste — 
long an Italian desire and demand — joined the 
Triple Entente. 

15. Japan. 

Japan, faithful to her treaty with Great Britain, 
has since fulfilled her part by taking Kiau Chau, 
in China, and certain Pacific possessions, from Ger- 
many, and the stupendous struggle goes on. We 
who are Americans can only hope it may not in- 
volve us, more directly, while, we pray, that the 
outcome may be well worth the cost. 



ADDENDA 



(October^ igiS) 

1 6. Bulgaria, 

With the beginning of October, 1915, it became 
apparent to the Triple Entente and their aUies, that 
one of the uneasy, restless Balkan powers — Bul- 
garia — the one, which in the last Balkan War had 
been so soundly thrashed by Serbia and Greece, 
assisted actively therein by Roumania, was, through 
her ruler, Czar Ferdinand, a Coburg Prince, enter- 
taining certain propositions from Teutonic sources, 
relative to territorial compensation, at the expense 
of Serbia, in return for an active military align- 
ment with the Central or Germanic Allies and Tur- 
key, against their common enemies, including 
Serbia. 

To counteract this influence, the opposite side 
offered, with the consent of Serbia, then threatened 
with another invasion by an Austro-German army 
from the North, to yield the territories which be- 
fore the Great War commenced, had been the bone 
of contention between Bulgaria and this latter 
State, which had seized them from Turkey, on th^ 

151 



152 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

successful termination of the War of the Balkan 
Allies with that country; and, in disregard of Bul- 
garian claims thereto, had held them, notwithstand- 
ing the war with Bulgaria, for their possession, 
which followed. 

Meanwhile, however, the Turks, ceding, by 
treaty, valuable additional territory to Bulgaria, 
had earned her friendship, sympathy and good-will. 
While from Germany came the funds, millions of 
dollars, which were being used in Bulgaria to 
finance her treasury obligations, Germanic and 
Turkish influences thus, gradually, became para- 
mount. And with German army officers, as was 
alleged, in command of large units, Bulgaria or- 
dered a mobilization of her army, while still pro- 
claiming her neutrality. Russia, at this point, 
served Bulgaria with an ultimatum, to dismiss all 
the German army officers from their commands, 
expel them from the country, and to furthermore 
demobilize her army within twenty- four hours; or, 
failing so to do, consider herself as at war with 
Russia herself and her allies. The offer, which 
had been made previously, of Macedonia and cer- 
tain territory at Serbia's expense, was likewise now 
withdrawn. Bulgaria, thus forced to an immediate 
decision, immediately invaded Serbia. This step 
being followed by declarations of war by Russia, 
by Serbia and her allies against Bulgaria; Bulgaria 
replying thereto in similar manner, and thus, in 
brief; the last link, to connect Berlin and Vienna 



ADDENDA 153 

with Constantinople, was added to the Turco-Ger- 
manic chain. 

Will the conflagration spread ? Greece, bound by 
an offensive and defensive treaty to assist Serbia, 
in the event of any attack by Bulgaria on the latter, 
now claims that this related to Balkan affairs only, 
and not to a condition unforeseen, wherein Bul- 
garia is associated with three of the great powers 
of Europe. Although, in sympathy, with the allies 
of the Triple Entente, who have, in the crisis, used 
her seaport, Salonika, against her protest, to succor 
Serbia, attacked now in force from the East; she 
and her king, who is married to the German 
Kaiser's sister, prefer peace, if possible, and neu- 
trality. 

Roumania, in sympathy with Serbia, with Rus- 
sia, France and Italy, has, since the taking of War- 
saw from Russia, by the Austro-Germanic armies, 
evinced no great disposition to take part, as an 
attive belligerent; although with Bulgaria In arms, 
and her own army, long since mobilized, her co-op- 
eration will, no doubt, be sought for eagerly by 
these great powers. 

Who knows what power will be the next In- 
volved, or where or when this unparalleled, destruc- 
tive, Great War of 1914 will end. Let us all hope 
and work for Peace, who yet enjoy its blessings. 



154 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

(March, 1916) 

17. Portugal 

Bound by a previous treaty with Great Britain 
to furnish 10,000 of her troops, when called upon to 
do so, the Republic of Portugal, in the beginning 
of March, 1916, seized for governmental use the 
thirty-five German vessels interned in her harbors, 
claiming that a lack of shipping facilities made this 
course necessary, although there is some reason for 
believing this step was advised by her ally. Ger- 
many's protest not being heeded at Lisbon, on 
March 8 that Power declared war on Portugal, and 
further hostilities are imminent. At the present 
time, owing to our diplomatic protests to the Teu- 
tonic Powers over the non-observance of neutral 
rights, it is claimed German intrigue is at work to 
bring about war between the United States and 
Mexico. One thing is true, an American army^is 
again in Mexico, and so far advanced into its un- 
welcome interior, that, not as at Vera Cruz, pre- 
viously, would it be possible to lend it the effective 
support of a strong fleet. If, at the command of 
the recognized authorities of revolutionary Mexico, 
the American troops be withdrawn, without having 
accomplished their mission of ending the bandit 
career of the noted Villa ; who raided United States 
territory and killed a number of citizens, the United 
States Government will again, as after the Vera 
Cruz imbroglio, become the laughing stock of the 



ADDENDA iSS 

world. There is heard much talk of military pre- 
paredness, and of increasing the army and navy. 
All sorts of schemes are being suggested, but, like 
China and the Chinese, the people generally seem 
apathetic, and for Peace at any price; for which 
they have a good mouthpiece in their former Sec- 
retary of State, William Jennings Bryan. Where 
are we at? 



(October, 1916) 

18. Rumania. 

Italy, for some time at war with the Austro- 
Hungarian Empire, having at length (August 27^ 
1916), as was almost inevitable, after her alliance 
with the Triple Entente, declared war on Germany ; 
Rumania, a nation of kindred race, speech and as- 
pirations, after having long maintained an attitude 
of rather benevolent neutrality towards the latter 
and her allies; now threw off the mask, and upon 
the same day, with the intention of adding to her 
domain the adjoining Rumanian population of 
Transylvania and with the promise, perhaps, of 
certain contiguous Rumanian-speaking Russian 
districts as well, suddenly declared war on Austro- 
Hungary and invaded the coveted province. Ger- 
many, in consternation, angered by this step against 
her chosen ally, having only herself just received 
the declaration of Italy, immediately, on August 
29, 1 916, declared war against this fresh belligerent, 



156 TBE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

and realizing, that in conjunction with the advanc- 
ing Russian armies, this new foe would prove a 
formidable antagonist, with the ready assistance of 
imperilled Austro-Hungary and threatened Bul- 
garia, at once prepared for an active campaign and 
a new alignment of her extended battle line. 

Thus we have new fuel added to the flame, but 
this is not all. 

19. Greece. 

Preferring neutrality to the risk of combat, 
Greece, with the troops of the Entente allies, 
already landed from the Dardanelles upon her soil 
at Salonika for a contemplated invasion of Bul- 
garia and restoration of Serbia, had reached an 
agreement with the Bulgars that her territories and, 
particularly, her seaport of Kavala, should be re- 
spected as neutral. Notwithstanding this, as the 
possession of the latter was deemed necessary by 
Germany to insure her ally against the increasing 
military preparations ; the Greek army corps which 
held the place, some 25,000 men, were prevailed 
upon to surrender the place to the Bulgarians and 
to accept of internment in Germany. 

When the news of this became public, throughout 
Greece there were hostile demonstrations and as 
already, in conformity to her policy of benevolent 
neutrality towards the Triple Entente, there being 
no other course open to her; her armies had been, 
except for defensive purposes, demobiHzed, all Ger- 
man propagandists or agents arrested or deported; 



ADDENDA IS7 

her postal and telegraph facilities taken possession 
of, and her coasts blockaded by the Entente; it 
needed but just this, to start in Greece, a national 
movement — a revolution — with the eminent states- 
man, Venizelos, a former premier, at its head; 
which, ignoring the king and his pro-Teutonic ad- 
visers, has proceeded since to form a popular union 
for national defense and to organize the military 
strength of the nation for war on the side of the 
dominant powers against the Bulgarian invader. It 
is believed that the king has demanded the return 
to Greece of the men transported to Germany, and 
he may yet agree with Venizelos and the popular 
side and formally declare war as desired. 



(April 6, 1917) 

The United States has at last, owing to the ruth- 
lessness of the U-Boat Warfare on the part of Ger- 
many, definitely recognized and declared a state of 
war as existing between the German Empire and 
itself. Some few weeks before this, for the same 
reason, China handed the German Ambassador his 
passports. So now, at last, we can all fraternize 
against German Kultur, East, West, North and 
South. What and when will be the end of this 
conflagration? Prediction: Peace, and soon. 

November 11, 191 8, which will ever be known 
as Armistice Day, a day of universal joy, the Ger- 
mans; their allies having laid down their arms; 



158 THE CUBAN INSURRECTO 

agreed to do the same, and to accept the victors' 
terms, which will no doubt be very severe. 

Alsace-Lorraine again becomes French, and there 
will be a heavy indemnity to pay by Germany; for 
the destruction of property, as well as of lives, has 
been unprecedented. 

The Czar, the Emperor Francis Joseph, are both 
dead; while the German Kaiser, having abdicated, 
is in Holland, a fugitive; his former empire, a 
republic. 

It was my country, the United States of America, 
which turned the scale against Germany. Our 
army, our navy, marine corps, and auxiliaries 
should be given full credit for the glorious finish. 

Did I serve at all? Well, I was rejected by the 
army and marine corps, as being over the age; by 
the navy for eyesight ; by the State guard for being 
under weight; and yet managed to serve with the 
Marine Division of the Home Defense League, in 
harbor de:^nse work, and with the New York 
Scottish in British recruiting work; as well as in 
many other capacities, one of which involved the 
drilling of many men on the New York City Col- 
lege campus — men who were liable to the draft. 
During all this time I was also carried on the 
Judge- Advocate-General's-List at Washington, 
D. C, as a candidate for a commission. 



FINIS 



